Chapter Thirty-Two Maksim
As I paced around the foyer of my penthouse, I fidgeted with my gold cufflinks. Instead of my usual tux, I was wearing a black three-piece suit. After peeking at the time on my Rolex, I sighed.
Craning my head up the stairs, I called, “Sarah, we need t-to go.”
“Coming!”
After banishing me from the bathroom, Sarah had been locked inside for the last hour. I couldn’t imagine what she was possibly still doing to her appearance. To me, she was a knockout wearing pajamas with no makeup.
And then she appeared on the landing.
“Fuck me,” I muttered under my breath.
She was absolutely stunning. She’d chosen a form-fitting red dress. The satin material hugged each and every one of her delicious curves. Her come-fuck-me heels were red stilettos that I envisioned digging into my ass as I pounded into her.
When she reached the bottom stair, she eyed me apprehensively, and I knew her mind was spinning with self-doubt in spite of how gorgeous she was.”
Taking her hand, I brought it to my lips. After bestowing a tender kiss, I said, “You are fucking stunning.”
Heat flushed her cheeks. “Really?”
“Absolutely.”
“Thank you for the dress.”
“No. Thank you.”
A nervous giggle bubbled from her red-painted lips. “I’m glad you like it, especially considering how expensive it was.”
“That makes me like it all the more.”
Sarah playfully smacked my arm. “You’re terrible.”
I held out my arm for her. “Let’s g-go.”
After sliding her arm through mine, we walked to the elevator with Sarah’s heels clicking on the marble floor. As we rode downstairs, Sarah stared at our reflection in the elevator doors.
Turning to me with an appreciative smile, she said, “I have to say. You look so good in that suit.”
“You like it?”
“I do. Very much.”
With a wink, I replied, “It was expensive t-too.”
Tilting her head at me, she asked, “What’s the Russian word for asshole?”
I grinned as I replied, “Mudak.”
She nodded. “Mudak.”
With a laugh, I replied, “We need t-to work on your pronunciation.”
“Okay.”
When the elevator doors opened, Vasily stood waiting for us in the lobby. At the sight of Sarah, his mouth dropped open. “I clean up nice, don’t I?” Sarah teased.
“My apologies, ma’am. You truly stunned me with your beauty.”
“Thank you,” Sarah gushed.
At my scowl, Vasily wiped the smile from his face. He motioned for us to walk ahead of him. When we stepped outside the building, the SUV was waiting with one of our other bodyguards, Timur, behind the wheel.
Sarah shot me an apprehensive look. “Two bodyguards?”
“It's just a a p-precaution.”
“Do you foresee the party being dangerous?”
I shook my head. “It’s just a show of force for the Kavanaughs. Like b-beating our chests to look manly.”
Although she laughed, Sarah didn’t look too convinced at my explanation. My palm tapped the swell of her ass. “Get in,” I ordered.
She threw a heated look at me over her shoulder. “Yes, sir.”
As soon as we were both inside and buckled up, Timur took off. Normally, an engagement party would’ve taken place at the family compound. Considering our past with the Kavanaughs, the families had decided to have it on neutral ground.
Since we wanted the very best for Mila, the party was being held at Liberty House on the water. No expense had been spared for the happy couple. It was also Dima’s and my first chance as pahkan to unite all those in our family and organization and show that the Korolovs were stronger than ever.
That fact alone had me anxiously twisting my cuff links. When you threw in the fact this was also the first time I’d ever introduced my siblings to a woman, I was even more on edge.
When I glanced over at Sarah, she tapped her stilettoed heel on the floor mat. “D-Don’t b-be nervous.”
She flashed me a smile. “Seems like I’m not the only one.”
Even if I hadn’t been stuttering, Sarah would’ve seen right through me. We had that much of a connection. “It’s a b-big step for me.”
“Because you’ve never introduced a woman you barely know?”
“I’ve never introduced a woman p-period,” I admitted.
Sarah’s dark brows shot wide. “You haven’t?”
I shook my head. “My brothers met a few women. But not my sisters. And not my Bratva family.”
“Wow…” Shifting in her seat, she shuddered.
“Are you okay?”
“Just feeling a little pressure after your admission.”
I reached over to take her hand in mine. “I wouldn’t t-take you into a situation where I thought you wouldn’t be t-treated with the respect you deserve. Even with my family.”
She cupped my cheek. “I appreciate that.”
When the car came to a stop outside the venue, I nodded at Sarah. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.”
“Everyone is g-going to be wondering how I pulled such a gorgeous and sexy woman.”
“And I would say because not only is he the most handsome man I’ve ever met, but he’s got a heart that’s even more attractive.”
With my chest overflowing with emotion, I cupped her cheeks in my hands. Tilting my head, I brought my lips to hers. What started as a tender kiss quickly turned in its ferocity. At Sarah’s moan, I thrust my tongue against hers.
A knock came at the window, causing Sarah to jump away from me. “No,” I growled.
“But we have to go,” Sarah panted against my mouth.
“We’ll go when I say so.”
Her delicious fire sent a smack against my chest. “I’m not meeting your family after you fucked me in the back of this SUV with Vasily and some other dude listening outside.”
“You’re right.”
Sarah grinned. “Of course I am.”
“Such a sassy mouth,” I groaned.
“Speaking of,” she muttered before she started digging around in her purse. After taking out her lipstick, she then flipped down the lighted mirror and started adjusting her makeup from our makeout.
Once she was ready, I threw open the door. Vasily stood with an impassive expression on his face. Giving her my hand, I helped Sarah out of the car rather than him. He then fell in step behind us as we made our way into the building.
After walking through the metal detectors, we headed into the giant ballroom. We’d barely swept through the door when Kira came bounding over to us. “Maks!” she cried before throwing her arms around my neck.
When Sarah stiffened beside me, I fought the urge to laugh. I decided to quickly stamp out her jealousy. After extricating myself from Kira’s embrace, I said, “There’s someone I want you t-to meet.”
Kira glanced between Sarah and me before her face lit up. “Oh my God, you must be Sarah.”
Kira’s enthusiasm took Sarah by surprise. “Uh, yeah, I am.”
Instead of shaking her hand, Kira threw herself at Sarah. After giving her the traditional Russian triple kiss on the cheek, she hugged her tight. “It is so good to meet you!”
“And you are?” Sarah asked with a hint of coolness.
“Kira, Maksim’s baby sister.”
Relief flashed on Sarah’s face before being replaced with a warm smile. “Oh, I’ve heard so much about you.”
Kira wrinkled her nose. “Don’t believe anything Maks says about me.”
Sarah laughed. “I promise I won’t.”
“Where are the others?” I asked her.
“Dima’s at the family table while Lev and Aleks are trying to scam pussy for later–”
While Sarah gasped, I groaned. “Seriously, Kira?”
“What? I’m just calling it as I see it.”
Turning to Sarah, I said, “Please excuse her. She has no filter.”
Sarah laughed. “It’s okay. I like people who don’t sugarcoat things.”
Kira grinned. “Then you and I will be besties for sure.”
I rolled my eyes before tucking Sarah to my side. “Come on. I’ll introduce you to Dima.”
Sarah and Kira waved goodbye to each other. As we made our way through the teeming crowd, many people stopped me to say hello. I made sure to introduce Sarah each time. To my dismay, my Bratva members weren’t very inviting, and I knew why.
It was the same bullshit Matvey and Kirill had brought up at our meeting.
Sarah wasn’t Russian. But their disdain didn’t just come from the fact she wasn’t from powerful Russian family.
She also wasn’t from a family with a potential alliance.
They wanted their co-pahkan to have an arranged marriage with a bride that brought something to the business, not just family.
If Sarah noticed, she didn’t let on. She probably just thought they were acting like stereotypical Russians. At least the Kavanaughs were all warm and welcoming.
But then Kostya had stepped into our path. After giving me the traditional Russian triple kiss on the cheek. he clapped me on the shoulder. “Father says you’re willing to hear some of my business proposals.”
That fucker. Kirill had totally twisted our words. Forcing a smile to my face, I said, “Tonight is for family, not b-business.”
Kostya’s expression darkened. “That’s not how we did things in the past.”
“Well, this is the future.”
Kostya cut his gaze from me to Sarah. After doing a sweep of her body, he shot me a cruel smile. “I see you’re following in your father’s footsteps bringing around your whore.”
At Sarah’s gasp, red blurred my vision. The next thing I knew I’d lunged at Kostya. “Maksim!” Sarah cried.
After launching a punch to his jaw, I grabbed him by the shoulders and slammed him into the wall. “Don’t you ever call her t-that! D-Do you hear me?”
Aleks and Lev appeared at my side while Artom and Gleb rushed to help Kostya. Once they’d pulled me away, I jabbed my finger at Kostya. “I don’t give a shit if you’re b-blood or not. You offend me one more time, and I’ll t-throw you out of Bratva.”
“Maksim,” Aleks warned.
“I mean it. They’re fucking undermining us.”
Dima appeared then. “Enough,” he snarled.
After pulling me into a corner, Dima shook his head. “What were you thinking?”
“First, he insulted me about listening to business, but then he called Sarah a whore.”
To my utter shock, Dima didn’t immediately go off the handle. I don’t know why I was surprised since he’d been standoffish with her. Sure, he had said hello and shaken Sarah’s hand where the rest of my siblings had given her the traditional Russian hello.
While it pissed me off, it hurt me more than anything. There was no one’s blessing I wanted more than Dima’s.
“This isn’t the place to fight with them. We don’t need witnesses, and we don’t need to ruin Mila’s night.”
Although I knew he was right, I hated admitting it. “Fine.”
Once my brothers had left us, I pulled Sarah against me. “Are you okay?” she asked.
“I should b-be the one asking you that.”
She shrugged. “He was pissed you wouldn’t talk business so he took a low blow.”
I grinned. “How can you be so understanding?”
“I’ve seen worse.”
I knew she meant her dealings with Silas. “I think I could use a drink. How about you?”
“As long as it’s with you.”