Chapter Five
Yelena
Day four of our marriage, and he didn’t bother taking things further than sweet kisses.
They were simple, chaste, practically pecks, but I wanted more.
No, I needed more. Did he not want me? He held me every night, which eased the ache in my chest. We spent most of the day together, but when he was working in his study, he let me roam around the house without his staff following me around.
I had just gotten dressed and nearly collided with him. Although we were sort of sleeping in the same bed, we didn’t share the bedroom. “Ready for some breakfast?” I asked.
“Love, I have to go into the office.” The office?
The same place where his assistant had been trying to get him to go since the wedding?
I tried to remain cool, calm, and collected.
After all, if he really wanted his assistant, he wouldn’t have gone to all the trouble to come after me, a nobody.
Still, there was a sense that things between them were only work related.
That woman was trouble, though. I may not have a lot of experience outside, but I knew what a woman sounded like trying to be coy.
Her tone with my husband screamed longing and desire.
She’d called a dozen times since Silas brought me home, and she wasn’t supposed to work while Silas took time off with me.
She was definitely trying to drive a wedge between us. A wedge so large nothing would fix the divide. I didn’t know how to compete with another woman, a woman who knew him better and longer.
“I understand. You’ve stayed home long enough with me,” I answered, my eyes focusing on his tie. My weakness was so pathetically on display that I couldn’t make eye contact.
He grasped my chin and tipped my head to look at him. “It’s never enough time. How about you and Reya go out shopping today?” We were supposed to go these past few, but the weather was terrible and I was nervous, so I gladly put it off.
I bit my lip, voice shaking as I finally got the uncomfortable words out. “I don’t have money.”
He shook his head and gave a soft, yet sensual chuckle that did more to me than I could explain. “You don’t need it, love.” Love? He called me love so often, I wondered if he forgot my name. His endearments made my heart pound. He slid over his card and added, “Spend whatever you want.”
My hand didn’t even reach for the card, but I was already intimidated. “Oh, I can’t.”
He took my hand and placed the card in it. “Yelena Harrison, I expect you to come back with a lot of things.”
“I’ve never been on a shopping spree,” I confessed, that even though my father had money, it wasn’t spent on me.
He gently squeezed his fingers around mine. “Then it’s good I’m sending Reya with you. I’m positive my sister will make sure you get everything you need and then some.”
Hearing her brother mention her name, Reya came bounding toward us. She barely came to a stop when Silas gave his command. “Reya, go ahead and take Yelena on a shopping spree.”
Her eyes widened. “Are you serious?” She squealed so loudly that her voice carried throughout the entire hallway. “We’re totally going to have a lot of fun.”
“I sure hope you ladies do. I’ll be at the office.” He gave Reya a serious stare and added, “Call me at any time if there are any problems, sister.” Turning to me with a warning in his pretty eyes, he said, “And don’t let Yelena talk you out of buying stuff.”
She rolled her eyes. “Come on, Silas, you know me better than that. My new sister has to be spoiled. Just so you know, I’m using your card instead of Dad’s.”
He shook his head and scoffed, “I’d expect nothing less.”
I wished I had a brother, but all I had was my cruel father.
My parents were never married. I was the child he didn’t claim until he received a nice chunk of my inheritance.
I entered his life right before my mother died from skiing accident.
She’d been in the hospital for months, but she never woke up.
My father brought me back to live with him, so he could play the loving family man and turn a profit while he was at it. Being a single father with a nice bankroll helped him nail pretty women. I’d been nothing more than a showpiece that only came out when he needed something.
“Wife, come here.” He took my hand and pulled me into his chest. “I want a kiss before you go.” I tilted my head, wanting so much more than a kiss, but I loved that he demanded my kisses. Silas cupped my face with both of his hands and planted his lips on mine.