Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Annika
After I finish showering and getting ready, I open the bathroom door and am disappointed once again as I see nothing on the bed but the dress and some lacy bits of underwear.
Kirill and I have fallen into a sort of pattern.
We argue more than talk when he gets home early, but once night falls, we’ve taken to some very feral fucking that leaves my body blissed out and my mind too blank to care that this was an arranged marriage.
I expected that tonight as well, but then Kirill surprised me with the auction. Still, I had thought perhaps he’d join me in the shower for a quickie. Pushing away my disappointment, I draw on the lacy black bra and underwear and then the dress, and I have to admit, it is perfectly suited for me.
It's much more conservative than the dress I was wearing the night we met, but still slides over my curves like a dream.
It has a diagonal neckline that continues to a single, elegant long sleeve for my left arm, leaving the right one bare.
The hem falls to my knees, hugging my figure tightly.
I pair it with long silver earrings that fall just an inch or so short from brushing my shoulders and a silver cuff on my exposed wrist.
I open the bedroom door once I have my heels on and I’m greeted by the sight of Kirill. His piercing blue eyes hungrily sweep down the sight of me, and I feel my stomach flutter at his apparent approval.
Instead of giving me the compliment I expect however, he simply says, “Better.” He turns away to walk down the hall, beckoning me to follow him.
For a moment I contemplate arguing, telling him that he can’t just beckon me like a dog, but I don’t want to risk him changing his mind about letting me leave the compound.
He’s off tonight, but that doesn’t mean I'm about to pass up the opportunity to go outside the gates. Even with my new studio to keep me busy, I’m still not used to being confined.
So I press my glossed lips together and hurry along, catching up with him in the elevator.
“You’re in a peachy mood,” I can’t help but say as we ride down. “Bad day?”
I cast my eyes toward him and notice his longing glance. He looks troubled and it worries me.
He catches my worried look and once again his handsome face becomes devoid of any emotion. Then in a flash he’s grabbing me, his hands like vices around my wrists as he crushes his lips down on mine. Immediately heat sweeps through my body and I melt into him. This is what I want.
He stops and pulls away when the elevator doors open, leaving me dizzy and wanting more. This time though, instead of beckoning me toward him, he leads me out by the hand.
“I need you to be perfect tonight,” he finally says once we’re in the car. “The families we’re going to see, they need to know that the alliance with the Shabalin are strong.”
I frown at him.
“You could have given me more time to prepare, you know,” I reply. “If tonight was so important.”
Kirill smirks at me as he traces his fingers over my knee and up my thigh.
“You need to prepare to like me, devochka?” he asks.
I smirk back at him as I boldly slide my hand up his thigh, to the bulge at the crux of his legs, and to my satisfaction he lets out a growl as my palm presses tightly.
“This is all I know about you, husband,” I reply, stroking ever so gently over his trousers, “This is all we share. That we like to touch one another. You don’t let me know anything else. You don’t ask me anything else.”
Kirill’s fingers wrap around my wrist as he looks in my eyes, but he doesn’t pull my hand away just yet.
“Unfortunately we cannot show them that side of us,” he replies, using my hand to run up the hardened column of his shaft.
It makes my nipples harden as I feel him pulse under my palm, but before I can get too excited, Kirill is pulling my hand away and placing it in my own lap.
“But we do need to show them we are united. That this marriage is strong,” he continues.
In truth I have no idea if this marriage is actually strong or not. I’m not unhappy but I’m not exactly thrilled at being held captive either. I love to fuck my husband but I’m not sure if I love him- or even like him. In fact I barely know him.
But what I do know is how important it is to both of our families that we appear united. No one but us needs to know what strangers we are. So I smile. Squeeze his hand.
“I’ll be perfect,” I promise. “I’ll make everyone think we are completely in love. But you know you’ll have to do the same.”
Kirill’s smirk returns as I try to tease him.
“I can and will,” he promises me, and the car stops as we arrive at the venue.
Edik opens the car door for us, and I’m not surprised when I see Yana standing behind him, looking as intimating as ever as people milled around us on the busy New York street.
I’m slowly getting used to having a personal guard, but sometimes, especially right now when she looks so lethal, it’s hard not to feel just a tiny bit intimidated.
I’m comforted by the way Kirill pulls me so closely to his side, already acting like the doting husband he promised me to be, and my tension eases a little.
He takes me inside a tall, shiny black building I don’t recognize, but the moment we step into the foyer we’re greeted by opulence.
Dark wood paneling, chandeliers, and antique furniture fill the sitting room.
On the opposite of the front doors stands a counter very much like a hotel, and behind it are four people in matching uniforms of maroon shirts, black vests and ties, and black slacks.
“Welcome to Anastasia’s, sir, madam,” one of the uniformed men greet us cordially.
“Good evening,” Kirill replies. “We’re here for the Yvaganov auction. Last name is Pavlovich.”
I notice that all four of the staff members still at the mention of the name, and the man greeting us even blushes a little.
“Yes sir, of course, sir,” the man replies readily. “The other attendees of the auction have all asked of your attendance. They will no doubt be excited for your arrival. Please, you and your company may take the last the elevator on the left. It will take you to your desired hall.”
“Spacibo,” Kirill replies, and puts a guiding hand on my lower back. Edik immediately moves to walk ahead of us and I don’t miss how Yana brings up our back.
“What is this place?” I ask.
“It is a club of sorts,” Kirill explains as we get on the elevator. “The auctions held here are not open to the public. Each elevator goes to a specific floor and that floor only. There is only one way in and one way out.”
“And what auction are we going to?” I ask.
“An old friend of mine’s estate auction,” Kirill replies. “He passed recently. We…we fell out of touch, and there’s a few things of his I wouldn’t mind having.”
“I’m sorry,” I offer.
I see a hint of gratitude flutter through Kirill’s eyes, and his thumb smooths a line down my lower back.
“That’s good. Acting concerned. Keep that up.”
I frown at him.
“I’m not acting, Kirill. I know what it’s like to lose a friend. It’s not easy. Even if you haven’t spoken in a while,” I reply.
Without really thinking about it, I reach up and cup his cheek. Instead of looking at me though, I see Kirill’s eyes dart toward Edik, and I turn just in time to see Edik starting intently at me.
Before I have time to question his look the elevator opens and its show time.
Kirill takes my hand and tucks it under his arm, leading me into the large room.
It’s not at all like a regular auction house.
Instead it is set up more like a high-end restaurant, with large round tables in the middle, a bar at the back, and a stage at the front where a band might set up.
Almost everyone is seated when the elevator doors open, but the moment the people see us they were out of their chairs and heading toward us.
We’re almost instantly surrounded by smiling faces of fancy dressed men and women, and the introductions begin.
Some faces I quickly realize are familiar from our wedding, and I take the opportunity to say things like ‘how good to see you again!’ and ‘it meant so much to us that you attended our wedding’.
This earns me a few appreciative glances from Kirill, and I can’t help but feel a little warm and fuzzy when I see them.
“Annika! Oh, I was hoping Kirill was going to bring you to this.”
I turn to the cheerful voice and am happy to see Viktoryia approaching with her husband quite close to her side.
“Dobryy vecher, Pakhan,” Mikhail greets Kirill. I’m not sure if it is custom or not, but Mikhail does not even look at me as he offers Kirill his hand.
“Dobryy vecher, Sovietnik,” Kirill replies as he takes his hand. A moment later Edik approaches, turning his back toward Viktoryia and me.
Though I thought I was fluent in Russian, the three men say things I can’t quite translate, and then Kirill turns to me.
“We have something to discuss in private, devochka. I want you to stick with Viktoryia and Yana,” he says, reaching up to stroke my cheek.
Remembering that I have to play the loving, doting wife, I simply smile and give him an obedient nod instead of demanding to know why he’d bring me out if he was only going to abandon me.
“Viktoryia, you will take care of the rest of the introductions, yes? And take her to our table. I don’t want her standing too long.”
“Of course,” Viktoryia replies, wrapping an around my waist, “Don’t you worry, Pakhan, I will take care good care of her.”
“What’s going on?” I ask Viktoryia as she leads me to the table closest to the stage.
I barely get a chance to sit before Yana returns with a glass of ice water for me, then takes a scant step back.
“Oh, nothing to be worried about, honey,” Viktoryia replies, waving over a waiter. “They have everything under control.”