Chapter 11 - Valery
Despite my overflowing closet of beautiful things, Jaroslav insists I spoil myself with a new dress for the gala we are attending this evening. It’s an important event and I know we have to make a good impression.
So, I’m going shopping again. But to make matters more challenging, he insists on going with me to help me choose it.
I can only assume he wants to make sure I choose something appropriate and that he approves of.
He doesn’t want to be embarrassed in front of his alliances.
I argued, telling him I know what types of dresses women wear to these events, but he still didn’t want to let me go alone.
I desperately need space from him, but it looks like I won’t be getting that today or tonight.
I’m in the dressing room, struggling with my feelings toward him, and doing my best to remain nonchalant and unaffected by his constant charm.
He’s waiting for me outside, sitting on a sofa, ready to comment on the dress I’m trying on.
This is the fourth dress. Each one of them had his approval, except for a yellow dress with a massive, billowing, layered skirt that made him laugh and had me grinning when he told me I looked like one of the Disney princesses.
“There is nothing wrong with looking like a Disney princess,” I’d challenged him.
“Agreed, but you , Valery, are more of a midnight queen. A dark and divine feminine with powers unlimited. A magic that could destroy worlds.”
His response was a beautiful, poetic compliment. It set my cheeks on fire and made me hurry away to change into the next dress before he could see my flushed skin.
In the full-length mirror, I stare at myself and turn left, then right.
This is by far my favorite of all the dresses.
It’s gorgeous. Thin straps show off my shoulders.
A low, dipping neckline leaves room for an eye-catching necklace.
Hand-stitched black beads adorn the full length of silky black fabric.
Glittering, long and flowing around my legs.
It has a slit all the way up over my hip that sneaks open when I move.
It’s elegant and sexy at the same time, and I desperately want him to see me as beautiful.
A magic that could destroy worlds.
But it’s that wanting that has me feeling miserable.
I shouldn’t want anything from a man who has nothing to give me. Or at least, not the emotional connection I yearn for. Money, yes. Luxury, yes. But not love . He’s already proven he isn’t interested in love…not with me.
With a deep breath, I push the dressing room door open and step out into the open.
His face says it all. And my heart skips a beat.
Dangerous desire darkens his hazel eyes, and his jaw muscles feather with tension.
“There won’t be a man in the room who could keep his eyes off you, little raven.
I’m not sure I approve,” he growls. But his compliments don’t ease the worry in my heart.
Ok, so he does think I’m beautiful. He’s physically attracted to me.
But what about more? Something meaningful?
I tilt my head to the side, then glance down at the dress. “I think it’s lovely. I don’t think I’ll have everyone’s attention, but it makes me feel very pretty.” I spin around, letting the dress move over me. He groans, and his fingers dig into his thighs.
“I don’t think you have any idea how sexy you are, Valery.”
I hesitate, knotting my brows at him, trying to read him, but I can’t apart from his obvious attraction.
“I’m getting it.” I smile boldly. If he can taunt my heart with his charm, I can taunt his cock with my sexy dress. “And I think it will go perfectly with my favorite necklace.”
He chuckles. “You always had a way of doing whatever you wanted, even when I disapproved.”
“So, you disapprove of my dress choice?” I challenge him.
“Oh, no, absolutely not. I very much approve of your dress. The part I disapprove of is having any other man looking at you.”
I scoff, turning my back on him and returning to the dressing room with an exaggerated sway of my hips.
This is definitely the dress I’m wearing tonight.
Before we leave the mall, we stop at a jewelry store. Jaroslav tells me he wants to look at a watch, but when we go inside, he heads straight for a display of black diamonds.
“The rose,” he says to the shop assistant, pointing to a glimmering black rose diamond pendant, “and the brooch.”
The assistant removes them from the display and holds them out to him on a velvet tray.
They are both absolutely magnificent. The intricate details of the design are exquisite.
He lifts the necklace and holds it up against me.
“We’ll need a longer chain,” he says thoughtfully. “But we’ll take both.”
“I don’t need a necklace,” I argue. “I have one that will work well with the dress.”
“It won’t be better than this,” he winks.
“But that costs more than your favorite car.”
“And?”
“For one event.”
“No, little raven, for my wife . To hang around her neck and sit over her heart, glittering as black as her hair and are bright as the stones stitched into the dress she chose to tease me with tonight.”
I grin and shake my head. He’s getting back at me for choosing the dress after he disapproved of it. It’s his way of taking back control. I chose the dress. He will choose the necklace. “Well, there is no reason to get the brooch as well. There isn’t anywhere for me to wear it on the dress.”
“The brooch isn’t for you.” His words cut into me. Jaroslav follows the assistant to the desk to complete the purchase, and my heart sinks. He bought the brooch for someone else. That takes away any special thoughts I had about the pendant.
“Oh,” I mutter, disappointed.
***
The gala is packed with high-level mafia families. An exclusive event for exclusive guests. My brothers, the Shevchenko family, the Milovs, and other allies are all in attendance.
Jaroslav wore a full back suit to match my black dress, and to my surprise, he pinned the black diamond rose to the pocket of his jacket, which matched the pendant he bought me. It is a thoughtful touch, dressing to match me. Wearing the same jewel. It wasn’t for another girl. It was for himself.
All eyes are on our new marriage as the cornerstone of the alliance, the solution that is to bring everyone together fully.
We are very much under public scrutiny tonight, and I am on my best behavior as the perfect wife, and Jaroslav is playing the adoring husband to perfection.
The problem is that I feel gorgeous in this dress, and he was right, the necklace I thought I’d wear isn’t half as beautiful as this diamond rose.
His gaze is heightening my confidence. I feel sexy. Very, very sexy. And between how beautiful I feel, and the constant touch of his hands, and the persistent attention he’s giving me—I’m becoming boldly playful and flirtatious. And he’s flirting back in full force.
The champagne isn’t helping anything either, or I’m actually daring to have fun.
I reason with myself that this is good for the gala guests to witness and for the rest of the alliance to see.
We are presenting a united front. Doing anything else would reflect poorly on my brothers, and from that perspective I’m relieved it’s going so well…
but dammit, I’m teasing myself into dangerous places.
We are standing in a crowd of other men, talking about business and relations, when Jaroslav leans close to my ear and whispers secretly, “Dance with me, little raven. Make every man in this room jealous.” He smirks as he slides his hand slowly over my waist and then slips his fingers between mine, pulling me toward the dance floor.
My stomach knots with excited anxiety. I want to dance with him, but that means getting even closer to him.
And it also means risking this building desire.
I can’t say no, though, with too many people watching.
On the dance floor, he hugs me tight against his broad chest and wraps his thick, muscular arms around me.
His hand spreads over my lower back, just above the curve of my ass.
I arch against his touch, reaching my arms up to loop them around his neck.
He smiles down at me, hazel eyes glowing, a devilish smile on his lips.
“Are they watching?” I whisper.
“I don’t care,” he replies in a husky growl.
“You should care. They need to see us together.”
He narrows his eyes, leaning close to my ear. His voice moves through me like thick, sweet caramel. “I only care about how you feel in my arms, Valery.” My heart stutters inside its ribbed cage.
Don’t read into that. It’s just another way he’s letting you know he’s physically attracted to you. That’s all.
Because I can ’ t bear to look into his eyes anymore, I rest my cheek against his chest. The music is slow now, sensual and seductive.
His hands roam over me, his fingertips grazing my naked back where the dress dips low above my ass.
My breathing quickens and my heart races. My stilly, foolish heart.
We dance for two songs until I can’t take it anymore, and I excuse myself to use the bathroom.
I don’t need to, but I do need a break from him. What am I doing? I’m sure we’re going above and beyond with our interactions, and most of it is unnecessary. But I can’t stop. I’m enjoying it too much, taking risks I shouldn’t.
Alone in the bathroom, standing in front of a gold-framed mirror above an ivory color basin, I splash cold water on my cheeks and stare at my reflection.
Sighing, I fuss with my hair, stalling having to go back out there.
What I should do is mingle with other people.
Be a little more social. I don’t have to be at my husband’s side the entire night. That will let me have a break from him.
The thought eases me, and I head back into the party to look for my brothers.