Chapter 33
Katerina
I rush to put on a charcoal jumpsuit and black pumps. Gazing at my reflection in the mirror, I debate whether it’s good enough.
“Stunning,” my husband’s husky voice tickles my ear.
I meet his eyes in the mirror as he crowds behind me.
“But it’s missing something.” As he says it, he lifts his hands and I see a glint of sparkle. He puts the ruby and diamond apology choker around my neck and clasps it.
I shake my head.
“Dominic, it’s too much for family dinner.” I lift my arms to take it off, but he swats them away.
“If you can’t wear my hands and lips around your neck, then you’ll wear my necklace,” he muses. “Later, we’re finishing what we started,” he promises darkly.
All I can do is roll my eyes because as much as his words send a shiver down my spine, I can’t admit my feelings.
He takes a step back, and I notice he’s wearing a suit the exact color of my jumpsuit. There’s no way he matched on purpose, right? But the ruby cufflinks and red tie argue that he did.
I barely have time to put on lipstick and brush my hair before he’s ushering us out the door with a hand on the small of my back. I try not to lean into it, but the warmth of his palm is so comforting.
We ride in silence. I can’t think of what to say. I want to ask about his family, but he hasn’t been open about them. They’ve been off limits. I didn’t expect to be invited over. I figured they didn’t want anything to do with his pretend wife.
There’s a foreign feeling in me as we sit in silence. It’s anxiety. Which is crazy because I don’t get nervous. Why do I even care?
But there’s so much unknown. Why did they invite me? What if it was only to drive a wedge between Dominic and me? What if they don’t approve of me and want me gone?
They were nice when we met at the wedding, but I was cold and distant. Definitely not a warm and welcoming addition to the family.
My husband doesn’t seem to share my unease though. He drives casually, weaving through traffic. I survey him, trying to find any sign of concern. His fingers grip the steering wheel a little too tight; his knuckles are a little too white. Good. I don’t want to be alone in my anxiety.
It relieves me that he’s in the same boat as me. I know he’s a master of hiding his emotions, but not from me. I can see through his act. And I can see his discomfort.
“Relax. I’m not going to stab any of them.” I break the silence with a joke.
He turns his head towards me and shoots me a glare.
“Too soon to joke about, then?” I tease him. He cracks a smile and lets out a small chuckle. It feels like winning the Stanley Cup to make him laugh.
“You barely stabbed me.” He rolls his eyes as he dismisses my claim to fame.
I gasp.
“How dare you! You needed the doctor to come stitch you up!” I swat his leg jokingly, but since it’s his left one, when I pull back, I accidentally brush over it.
And it is hard.
And big.
And firm.
I freeze with my hand resting on his steel pipe.
He coughs and starts to laugh.
“Either start getting to work or let me go, but don’t just hold my cock,” he says through a chuckle.
I tighten my grip, and he hisses, then I pull back quickly.
“Why are you hard? We’re about to be with your family!” I try to sound disgusted, but I’m not sure I succeed.
“After our little encounter in the hallway, you can’t expect me to be anything but hard. Fuck, tiger. My blood just stopped boiling.” He runs his hand through his hair, messing it up.
“That’s unfortunate for you,” I muse, sounding unaffected. I keep my attention focused on my manicured fingernails instead of meeting his gaze. I can’t let him see that I’ve been just as affected.
“You’re telling me you feel nothing after that kiss? Hottest damn minute of my life. Cut too damn short.” He sounds so exasperated that I can’t help but grin. I love getting on his nerves.
“Honestly, wouldn’t even rank it top five hottest kisses for me,” I say nonchalantly.
“Bullshit,” he grits out. I see his fingers tighten on the steering wheel and can’t help but push him further.
“Well let’s see.” I start counting on my fingers.
“There was Zeke in junior high. You never forget your first kiss. Then there was Gabriel at prom. Oh, that was a prom night I’ll never forget.
” I chuckle at the fake memory, and it makes Dominic growl.
I’m lying through my teeth. Half these kisses didn’t happen, and the ones that did, they didn’t come close to our kiss.
“Skipping to college, there was Danny at the frat party. Now, he knew how to kiss… everywhere. Oh, I can’t forget Anton!
He might deserve first place. I’ve never had dick like–”
“ENOUGH!” Dominic roars, cutting me off.
“Don’t raise your voice at me!” I reprimand him sharply. I reach over and squeeze his arm, digging my nails into it. Then I pat it condescendingly. “Yours deserves an honorable mention.”
“You’re such a fucking brat,” he mutters through clenched teeth.
“But I’m your bratty wife.” I tease him, and it has the opposite effect that I expect. Instead of scowling, he grins.
“Damn straight. And every fucking man better remember it,” he threatens the nonexistent men in our car.
“A big, fat diamond ring on my finger would make that known. Too bad none of them will see I’m taken.” I sigh as I look at my lonely wedding band.
He just rolls his eyes.
“We’re here.” He points out the window towards a beautiful mansion. It looks ethereal with its character.
We park, and he hops out of the car, but I sit and wait. I’ll be damned if my husband doesn’t treat me like a lady. If he isn’t a gentleman yet, I’ll train him to be. Because if you’re as stubborn as I am, you can teach an old dog new tricks.
My husband makes it halfway up the front steps before realizing I’m not by his side. He looks around confused then storms towards me. He shoots me a questioning look, but I just raise my eyebrow at him.
He opens my door and inspects it.
“Is there something wrong with the door?” He sounds genuinely concerned.
“There’s something wrong with my husband,” I throw at him.
He stumbles back.
“What the hell did I do wrong this time, crazy woman?” He looks a mix between shocked and amused.
“I’m a lady. A lady doesn’t open her own door. You’re supposed to be my gentleman,” I scold him.
He just laughs.
“Tiger, you’re so far from a lady it’s not even funny. I watched you kick Nik’s ass in the ring yesterday.”
“I can be a lady and still be a badass. Now help me out, jackass.” I stick my hand out of the car, and he grips it tightly. He pulls me out and once I stand, he shuts the door and leads us to the house.
But he never drops my hand.
He lifts his key, ready to unlock the door, but I stop him and knock.
“This is my parents’ place. I can let myself in,” he grumbles.
“Dear God, it’s like you’ve never been taught any etiquette. I can’t just barge into the house of someone I don’t know.” I pull my hand from his.
When I hear footsteps, I nervously step away from Dominic. I don’t want them to think there’s anything going on between us. He immediately grips my waist and pulls me into him. He tucks me into his side with a fierce grip, and I unsuccessfully try to wiggle free.
“Smile, tiger. It’s time for you to behave like a lady,” he whispers in my ear.
I scoff and stomp on his foot. He hisses out a breath and squeezes me tighter.
“You little mudak! I swear–” I start to curse him out, but the door swings open, shutting me up.
I paste on my brightest, fakest smile as a middle-aged couple I barely recognize greets us.
“I’m so glad you guys could make it!” Dominic’s stunning mother says as if she didn’t demand we come mere hours ago.
“Thank you for having us, Mr. and Mrs. Montclair.” I hold out my hand, ready to shake theirs, but it’s ignored.
His mother pulls me in for an unexpected hug. Dominic doesn’t loosen his hold so it’s awkward when she can only put one arm around me.
“Please, dear, call us Damien and Evelyn. We’re thrilled our newest member of the family could finally make it to dinner,” Damien tells me with a grin and leads us inside. “It’s a mandatory weekly event, Sunday family dinners. We know your lives have been busy, but we want to see you more.”
“Katerina, we’re having steak and vegetable medley for dinner. I apologize for not checking earlier if you had any food allergies or preferences. If this doesn’t meet your needs, please let us know.” Evelyn looks distraught at the idea that I could possibly not be able to eat their dinner.
“Oh, she’ll eat anything! Don’t worry about that, Mom,” Dominic says with a chuckle.
I dig my fingers into his back until he hisses.
“Young man, Katerina can speak for herself. And she can do it a whole lot better than you can. I raised you better than this!” Evelyn uses such a motherly-scolding tone it almost brings tears to my eyes.
“Steak sounds lovely. Thank you,” I tell Evelyn with a sweet smile, when what I really want to do is applaud her for putting Dominic in his place.
“Everyone’s in the sitting room,” Damien says as he ushers us down the hallway.
I look around and note just how homey everything feels. How homey the house feels. How homey this family feels. How full of love it is. I’ve never experienced anything like this.
“Did you grow up here?” I whisper to Dominic.
“Yes. My parents’ have lived here since they got married.” He says it like it’s no big deal, but he isn’t seeing what I am.
I may have grown up in a big mansion too, but it was never like this. I push past my envy to excitement. They’re treating me like one of their own. Maybe I’m actually welcome in this family.
We walk into the living room, and I finally see people I recognize. Margot and Matthias, Cecilia and her husband whose name I can’t remember, and Bash.
“Kat! I’m so glad you’re here!” Margot jumps up from her spot next to Matthias and gives me a hug.
I hug her back awkwardly, still not used to any form of affection.
Cecilia waves at me from her spot practically in her husband’s lap.
She’s showing even more than when I saw her at the wedding.
I can’t imagine what it’s like being pregnant with triplets.
“Hey, Margot! What’ve you been up to?” I ask to be polite. She jumps into a story about the wild alien romance book she’s narrating. It sounds… interesting.
Once she’s told her story, it becomes almost a Q&A for me. I’m fielding questions about myself. They don’t seem judgmental, just curious. Dominic gets scolded more than once for interrupting me, correcting me, or refuting my answers. He’s taken to just sulking next to me.
Everyone has been more than welcoming, and by the time Evelyn rises and ushers us to dinner, my nerves have dissipated.
I realize I love the Montclair family, and I love being a Montclair.