Chapter 19
Katerina
I wake to an empty bed.
Last night, I quickly changed into one of Dominic’s t-shirts and boxers when he was showering. I had to use a knife to cut myself out of that hideous dress. No way was I asking him for help undressing. When he left the bathroom, I showered and brushed my teeth.
The way he stared at me when he saw me in his clothes… he looked hungry. Starved. He didn’t look at me that way in the wedding dress. Maybe Viktor was onto something only allowing me to wear dresses. Because the heat from his gaze at me in boxer-shorts and a t-shirt scalded me.
I climb out of bed and look around. The room is pitch black with the curtains closed. Opening them, I revel in the sunlight.
After brushing my teeth, I leave the bedroom to explore the house. Making my way down the hallway through rooms, taking random turns, I get lost. I have no idea where I am.
The few men I pass must be Syndicate. They either glare at me or avert their gaze. I guess I’m not going to be popular around here. Not that that’s a surprise.
Dominic’s unmistakable voice booms through a wall, so I go to the door. I listen for a minute but can’t make out what’s being said.
Fuck it.
Opening the door, I step inside.
My husband sits behind a dark desk, and there’s a man across from him. They seem relaxed… until Dominic’s head whips in my direction.
The other man turns to me but drops his gaze and turns back around as soon as he sees me.
“WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING?” Dominic yells at me.
He stands so abruptly, his chair wobbles backwards. He’s around the desk in the blink of an eye and crowding me against the door.
“Excuse me?” It’s sassy. A tone I know I shouldn’t take with him in front of his men. But I don’t care.
“You can’t walk around in that!” He’s already taken off his jacket and is now trying to put it on me.
I shrug it off and let it tumble to the floor. His scowl deepens.
“Well, what do you expect me to wear? My clothes are in my bedroom, and you refuse to show me where it is,” I counter with a grin.
He knows he has no choice but to bring me there.
“You can’t walk around like this. You’re practically naked!” His hands run through his hair, and he pulls the ends.
“I’m not naked! And no one I’ve seen so far has had an issue with it.” I bat my eyelashes innocently at him, but he isn’t deterred.
“Who the fuck saw you?” Dominic’s gritted teeth barely make the words comprehendible.
I ignore him. It’s not like I know the names of any of the men. I squeeze out from between him and the door to walk towards the man still sitting in the chair. His back is to us, clearly giving us privacy. But I walk in front of him.
“Get back here!” Dominic demands. He’s practically shaking in his fury.
I continue to ignore him as I face the man, noting he’s quite handsome. I thrust my hand out, but he ignores me.
“I’m Katerina, the wife. But in name only.” I wink at him as I say it suggestively, but he continues to ignore me. This one’s not dumb.
“KATERINA! GET BACK HERE! NOW!” Dominic’s almost to his tipping point. It’s just going to take one more little push. “Stefan, don’t fucking look at her!”
I sit myself on Stefan’s lap and put my arms around his neck.
“So, it’s Stefan. A strong name for a strong man.” I shamelessly flirt with this stranger in front of my fuming husband. I squeeze his biceps as I say it. “Aren’t you going to introduce yourself? I’d love to have a friend around here.” I pout my lips and run my fingers through his dark hair.
Before either of us can react, I’m ripped from his arms. To give Stefan credit, he never looked in my direction. And he was seconds away from pushing me off.
Dominic has me cradled in his arms and turns his back on Stefan, making sure none of me is visible.
“GET OUT, STEFAN!” Dominic roars at the man, and he scurries from the chair.
“Good luck, Dom.” Stefan sounds delighted at my husband’s misfortune in a wife, and it almost makes me feel bad for using him.
“OUT! NOW!” Dominic growls at him, and I swear I hear Stefan’s laughter behind the door.
Dominic dumps me in the chair next to the one Stefan was sitting in and crowds me.
“You’ve gone too far. You parade around this house in fucking boxers and no bra! Then you throw yourself at my second!” Dominic’s wild eyes only spur me on.
“I have nothing else to wear. I don’t know where my room is. Hell, I don’t even know where any food is.” I sigh dramatically, then make eye contact. “And my tits are so small I don’t need a bra.”
Dominic’s gaze drops to my breasts at the last comment, and his nostrils flare.
“I can see your fucking nipples poking through my goddamn shirt. Fucking dress yourself!” His fists grip the leather of the armrests so hard they squeak.
“Then bring me to my room so I can change!” I toss back at him. He can’t deny my logic.
“Fine, I’ll show you. But it’s not your room anymore. I’ll have someone move your clothes to our bedroom.” He leans back and paces across the room.
“No need.” I have no intention of residing in his bedroom. He’ll get bored of me eventually, especially once he realizes I’m not putting out.
He comes back and pulls me out of the chair. Then he throws his discarded jacket around my shoulders and pulls it tight. It swallows me but does its job in concealing my state of undress.
We march in silence. Dominic’s face is neutral, but the way he ignores everyone we pass and growls at the ones who look at me, betray his fury.
He’ll get over it.
We get to a bedroom, and I realize it truly is on the other side of the house. Why was he set on me having me away from him only to change his mind? What changed his mind?
Dominic opens the door and walks in. I trail behind him. He turns to face me and scowls.
Out of the corner of my eyes, I see a grey furball sneak its way towards Dominic. I open my mouth to warn him, then reconsider.
“What’s so funny?” Dominic demands.
“What?” I ask innocently. Vova slowly crawls his way across the floor. Dominic is so focused on pouting that he doesn’t notice the little furball approaching.
“What has you smiling?” he growls, and I can’t help the giggle that escapes.
“Kateri– FUCK! WHAT IS THAT?” Dominic jumps so high he almost hit the ceiling.
I look at my precious cat and laugh.
“That’s Vova, my cat!” I tell him through my laughs. I’m gasping for air as Dominic glares at him.
“Well, Vulva just pissed on my shoe!” I double over at his claim. I fucking love my cat. “This isn’t funny. They’re custom made in Italy!”
“Okay, diva. Calm down. He’s just a cat.” I crouch down and call him over. Vova runs into my arms and purrs. His kindness to me is the icing on the cake.
Dominic pulls his precious Italian shoes off with the tips of his fingers while glaring at Vova. He walks across the room and chunks them into the trash. Then he peels off his socks and does the same to them. The entire time, he’s muttering curses.
“I wasn’t informed of any animals. We’ll have to keep him outside,” Dominic muses. His frown lessens at his decision.
“No. He’s my pet, and he’s an indoor cat. He stays with me.” This isn’t up for debate. He’s not going anywhere.
“He’s a pest, and he sure as shit isn’t staying in our bedroom.” Dominic’s fingers pull at the strands of his hair. That must be his tell when he’s pissed. He does it quite often around me.
“Perfect. I’ll stay in this bedroom with him.” I grin at how well this is working out for me. I prance around the room looking at the boxes of my things.
“My wife isn’t sleeping with her cat over me!” Dominic’s raised voice betrays him. He’s fucking pissed with me.
“Your wife didn’t have a choice in marrying you. But she did have a choice in her cat. So, I’m choosing Vova.” It makes perfect sense. Why can’t he just let things go how they were supposed to?
“Vulva isn’t an option! You don’t get a choice!” Dominic marches towards me, then changes direction and starts pacing.
“His name is Vova. Short for Vladmir,” I correct him.
“Vulva,” Dominic repeats.
“No. Vova,” I say it slowly so he can hear it.
“I’m saying the same thing as you. Vulva!” He stops his pacing to glare at me.
“I didn’t name my cat after female genitalia. It’s Vo-Va.” I harden the pronunciation of each syllable.
“Whatever. Just figure out the damn cat and keep it away from me.” Dominic looks at the furball in my arms one more time and sneers before storming out of the room.
I look down at Vova and tell him, “This is going to be interesting.”