Chapter 36
CHAPTER 36
TATIANA
I don’t believe I have ever been as happy as I was when I walked toward Titus in the Kremlin. I will never forget my first glimpse of my husband. Tall, dark and handsome doesn’t do the man justice. Tall definitely, so dark in every way, his black heart full of revenge and vengeful promises with a center that is so beautiful it’s like polished ebony.
Handsome doesn’t go anywhere near enough to explain how good looking he is. His black hair gleams, reflected in his sexy dark eyes. His strong jaw was set with pride and his obsidian eyes glittered with emotion as I walked toward him. He is my black-hearted warrior. My protector and my lover. My best friend and the only man I have ever loved.
I am in no doubt about that. Love crept up on me, unexpected but definitely welcome, and as he took my hand, he may as well have taken my heart and locked it safely inside him with his. I am his and I’m happy about that. If we have made a new life together, it will be one of many. I’m aware of that and I welcome it because, for a woman who has been alone for most of her life, I crave a large family more than anything.
I have no nerves, no doubts and no expectations. I am in love and the rest can work itself out as we go along. It doesn’t matter if my husband isn’t there with the same emotion yet. Maybe one day, hopefully anyway, he will love me back.
Two hours and a million photographs later, we make it back to the glittering reception, our first joint engagement as a married couple. I don’t dwell on the fact Titus was preoccupied in the car. He is obviously deep in thought, and there is an ominous aura surrounding the occasion.
He wants revenge for his father’s death. I’m aware of his wishes and wonder if somehow this event will facilitate that.
As we make our entrance, it’s as if I am accompanied by toxic gas. It’s difficult to breathe under the stench of anticipation.
It’s as if Titus is somewhere else entirely and it’s up to me to dazzle – to shine beside him and deflect the guest’s attention away from my brooding warrior who is holding my hand a little tighter than usual.
This is the most emotional I have ever seen him and yet to anyone watching, nothing is different.
I feel it; I sense it and I question it because what happens next may not be in the wedding script.
We join our guests for a feast and yet my hunger is not for the food. If anything, I wish for this day to be over. To be alone with my husband, who may as well be in another country for all the attention he is giving me. I push down my nerves because I’m unsure what is happening right now and as we eat I note the tense expressions of his family. An outsider wouldn’t know any different, but I’m aware of a tangible dark thread running through the festivities and my heart beats with the drum of danger because something isn’t right.
As I eat, I note the impressive guest list. There are many powerful men and women in this room and I smile at Clarissa, who waves at me from her seat. I am touched at the many texts and warm messages she has sent me and we have arranged to meet for lunch when all the fuss has died down.
Equally, Irina Mashkov has been invaluable and I’m grateful how she smoothed my path into society by way of her friendship. Most of all, though, is my acceptance by the Romanov family. They are my family now and I am more than happy about that.
Titus grips my hand as the first toast is announced and as we stand, my heart is beating faster, although I don’t know why. Boris Fedorov stands to do the honor and raises his glass, signifying for the rest of the guests to do the same.
They down the shot and shout ‘Gorko’ meaning bitter and Titus turns to me and my heart flutters at the dark desire in his eyes as he wraps his hand around my waist and pulls me close, his other hand around my head as he crushes his lips to mine.
We kiss in front of the world. A declaration of our love laid out bare for everyone to witness. This kiss must traditionally last an eternity. The shot and subsequent toast of the bitter liquid means the couple must kiss to counteract the bitterness. The longer their kiss lasts, the longer and happier their marriage will be and Titus is apparently intent on making this kiss last forever.
His strong fingers tangle in my hair as he deepens the kiss, the calls from the guests fading away into the background as he declares his ownership. His arm tightens and I can’t move as he commands my full attention.
It’s as if we are alone. What happened that brought us here a distant memory. None of that matters now—not to me, anyway. All that matters is our future, and I intend on making it a long one.
I am a ballerina. It was all I wasuntil I met him. Dancing was my life, but that has all changed now. Titus Romanov is my life and I take my marriage vows seriously. I am kissing my husband and what began as an arrangement became destiny.
When we finally break apart I am breathless and the cheers from the guests lifts my heart. This is a happy time. It settles around me like an old friend. I am accepted. We are accepted, and I am touched to see many smiling, familiar faces around us as they celebrate our marriage. The Bolshoi are here on a rare day off, Rodion looking on like the proud father he professes to be. My new friends, new family and strangers who wish us well and I’m surprised if not a little shocked when a hush falls on the gathering and Titus tenses beside me as Denislav Orlov, our feared president, stands and raises his glass.
We all follow his lead and his dark tones cause me to shiver as he offers a few words.
“I have known Titus Romanov his entire life. His father, Andrei, wasa close personal friend of mine who sadly couldn’t be here today. Taken before his time, but never forgotten.”
I note the grave expressions on the faces of the Romanov family, their grief etched in their expressions as they remember their father. Titus squeezes my hand in a painful grasp and I’m not sure what is happening right now, but as the guest lifts their glasses, Denislav offers the customary toast to the family of the bride and groom. “To Andrei Romanov–”
He doesn’t get to finish as a shot rings out and chaos follows. Screams echo around the room as the guests run for cover. I am pulled away by Simeon and two of the guards as Titus is pulled in another direction.
My screams are swallowed up by the deafening noise of fear, the guests causing commotion and chaos; time standing still as the happy event descends into madness.
There is no time to register what’s happening as Ana is pulled along with me and we are ushered away from the crowds and out through a side door where a car is waiting. As I am pushed into the car, Ana joins me and as the door slams she says calmly, “May his soul rot in fucking hell.”