Chapter Three
Yelena
My new husband bought me. I should be scared and concerned, and yet, I’d never been less afraid. As soon as I entered the car, a sense of relief came over me, and a weight was lifted off my shoulders.
“This is your new home,” he said as we drove through the black wrought-iron gates and passed two security men.
“It’s beautiful.” In ways it resembled my old home, but in my heart, I knew I had finally escaped hell.
The loud clang of the gates closing behind me didn’t frighten me.
I clung to my husband, who didn’t seem to mind.
Even the call earlier hadn’t stopped him from giving me attention.
I hadn’t missed the voice of a woman on the other end, but it wasn’t my place to ask.
Still, I wanted to stare this woman down and let her know Silas was mine.
Six long months, and my dreams had come true.
I might not know much about him other than what I read about or what others had said.
Still, none of it mattered because my heart hadn’t wanted anything else but the man in front of me.
The rumors about hating women weren’t entirely true.
I remembered the look in his amber eyes when he held me.
The sudden shift from confused to hungry had caught me by surprise that day.
“What’s going on in that pretty head of yours? ”
“If you knew my thoughts, you might not think they’re so pretty.” They were bordering on lustful. Although I wasn’t sure how capable I was for that. I had no experience, but his touch made me reconsider my capabilities.
“Well, are they dirty?”
“Not yet,” I replied truthfully. Although I couldn’t guarantee how long that would last.
The door of the car opened, and the driver waited for us to exit. Silas leaned down and whispered in my ear, “Whenever you’re ready, I’ll be waiting.” My breath caught and my face burned. He chuckled softly, only adding to the sensual appeal he had. “Let me show you to your bedroom.”
“Don’t you mean our bedroom?” I asked as we climbed the front steps.
“No, this one is just yours. I’m not going to force you into that part of our lives. When you’re ready, you let me know.”
“So, you’re going to live like a monk, or are you going to have mistresses?” I asked as the large wooden doors opened.
“Baby, there’s no one else but you. I can’t say that I’m not going to help myself.” He turned to a man in a suit who answered the door. Oh goodness, did he just hear what I asked? “Declan, this is my wife, Yelena. Yelena, this is our butler, Declan.”
“Madam, we’re glad that you’re here.”
“Can you let the staff know we’re home and that dinner should be ready in an hour?”
“Yes, Mr. Harrison. The bedroom has been prepared as requested.” He thanked him, and I nodded before Silas led me up an enormous staircase.
Okay, maybe my father’s house wasn’t as nice as this.
He had large columns that divided the foyer from the main entryway.
In front was a massive staircase that led to the second floor
I paused, observing the classic and elegant décor. “This way, Yelena.”
“In the contract with my father, it said I had to produce an heir,” I blurted out.
“As I said, love, when the time is right,” he replied as he led me to a large bedroom.
“You’re awfully generous.” My father wasn’t kind. If my virginity didn’t hold any weight, I would have been traded between his friends and guards.
“Let’s just say I enjoyed you being in my arms way more than you can even understand, so waiting isn’t the worst thing unless you don’t let me hug you.” I was at a loss for words. I could live in his arms if he’d let me. I was about to say something when someone shouted.
“Oh, my goodness, oh my goodness. Who is she?” a beautiful brunette with wide eyes and a chipper voice squealed.
I nodded toward her and told Yelena, “That’s my sister—a serial-killer princess.”
“It’s actually Reya.” She threw her arms around me before he could stop her. I grunted from the rush against the bruise on my shoulder. Silas somehow missed it when he was holding me, but his sister hit the spot.
“Reya, could you leave my wife alone for a moment?”
“Sorry, I got excited. It’s so great to finally have a sister.” My heart melted on the spot. How did I get so lucky to be in a family with such tenderness?
“I’ll let you two get settled, but I’m not missing out on dinner with my new sister. Sorry, bro. You’re just going to have to get used to sharing her.” She hopped and then rushed down the stairs.
“Please don’t mind her. She’s a senior in high school and on the verge of driving me insane.” I giggled and shook my head.
“She’s sweet.”
“Good. I want you two to get along. Now let me show you your room.” He opened the door, and I bit down on my bottom lip.
My bedroom was absolutely beautiful—everything a woman could want.
Moreover, it suited me. It was like he knew exactly what I wanted.
The walls were white with a gigantic bed in the middle with a pretty yellow comforter and matching pillows.
Not only had he remembered me from six months ago, but in that time, he waited to learn what I liked.
This was too good to be true. He was too good to be true.
“Is there something wrong with the room?” The uncertainty in his voice calmed my concern.
I turned around to face him and pressed my hands to his chest. “No, it’s perfect. Thank you.”
He gave a sharp raise of his brow and a tiny hint of a grimace. I was certain it might terrify others, but all I felt was security. “What did I tell you about the thank you?”
“I don’t have to say thank you. That doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the beauty.”
Me too, I swore I heard him whisper. “I’ll let you get settled. Dinner should be in about an hour.”
He left the room and closed the door behind him before I could thank him again.
As I stood in the large room with the massive bed, I froze, confused about the silence.
I was alone. Something I normally enjoyed, but now, the rush of emptiness filled my heart.
He gave me privacy, which was something my family never allowed, so I appreciated it.
My door always had to remain unlocked and slightly ajar. I wanted Silas to return.
I walked over and took a seat on the edge of the bed. This man was already in my dreams, and now he was working his way into my heart. I closed my eyes for a moment, then drifted into sleep. A quick rap on the door woke me up. “Yelena, are you okay? Time for dinner.”
“Sorry, I’m coming. I just need a moment.”
“I’ll wait out here.” I refreshed myself in the bathroom, looking over my appearance in the large mirror.
I didn’t recognize the woman in the reflection.
What happened to me? My expression was gaunt.
I’d lost a lot of weight over the past six months.
My father’s demands had driven me from the dining room.
His wish for me to make a successful marriage that benefited his company was the most important thing to him.
Over the past three months, we’d had dinner with three different men who were interested in marrying me until the day after the dinner.
Then they all vanished. My father blamed me for offending them.
He nitpicked everything I did until I couldn’t finish a meal in his presence.
I spent days re-learning proper manners and decorum until my body ached from the stiffness.
I opened the bedroom door and found my handsome, tall, broad-shouldered husband with his suit jacket and tie removed. The sleeves of his tailored dress shirt were rolled up his forearms while the first two buttons were undone. I involuntarily licked my lips.
He asked, “Hungry?” The look in his dangerously seductive stare made no mistake that he wasn’t talking about food. I blushed, tipping my eyes away from him. He was too everything. My heart pounded violently; I was sure he could hear it.
“Careful. I told you I’d give you time before we worked on those babies.”
“I…I…”
“Don’t be embarrassed. I’m doing everything I can not to pin you down.” He winked and then took my hand, closing his fingers around mine.
We were walking toward the large staircase when my new sister said, “Um, you guys need to be careful. Falling down these insane stairs would suck ass.”
“They are pretty grand.”
“Yes, they are. I’m thinking of having them remodeled. They’ve been that way since my grandparents bought this house,” Silas remarked, leading me down the steps. His family had owned this home for three generations. I tried to hide my shock with my hand over my mouth.
“Yes, my mother lost it when I nearly bit it one day. I tumbled down these bad boys. Luckily, Silas was nearby and caught me before I hit more than five steps.”
“That’s awful. I’m glad you were safe in the end.”
“Yes, so were our parents,” she added.
“Forgive me for asking, but where are your parents?” I didn’t know anything about my husband or his family.
“They’re in the Maldives. An anniversary present.”
His sister jumped between us and threw her arms over our shoulders. “That’s why I’m staying here for the time being. They think that seventeen is too young to stay by yourself.”
“It’s not that, and you know it,” Silas snarled.
“With as many shows as I watch, I hated being left in the house alone. Every sound, creak, or animal in the woods would scare me,” I said.
“Well, you have us here. Me for another week. Him, well, you’re stuck with.” I didn’t mind that at all.
We entered the large dining room that was meant to host an entire party. “Please sit,” Silas said, holding the back of my chair. He dropped his head as he pushed my chair in, and I swore he breathed me in. Damn it, my thighs clenched together.
“Dude, I’m not sure why you’re not sharing a room. You’re all over her, and she’s about to burst with excitement over there.” I ducked my head to hide the flush that spread across my cheeks.
“Stay out of the grown-ups’ business, Reya.”