61. Kat

Chapter 61

Kat

You’d think Nik had just pulled off the greatest con of all time.

From across the dance floor at our reception, I watch him proudly show off his wedding ring, his grin practically splitting his face as he laughs with his best man, Lucien, and—much to my surprise—Dmitri.

Words can’t even begin to describe my husband in a tux.

In fact, the three of them are a striking sight, all so impeccably dressed, standing under the soft glow of the chandeliers.

A.J. has her eye on Lucien. In her own words, it’s a tradition for the maid of honor and best man to hook up. He’s been avoiding her like the plague.

Our guests have completely taken over Nik’s private island—I mean, our private island. All our villas are filled, though their occupants currently laugh on the dance floor, drinking champagne and indulging in canapés. My girlfriends are working hard to get Nik’s men to do the limbo or the Macarena. I just hope there's a camera ready to capture the moment if they convince Vladmir.

How A.J. managed to plan this wedding in such a short time is a mystery to me. Nik handled all the honeymoon arrangements, cryptically ordering me to pack plenty of sunscreens.

With a fresh glass of champagne in hand, I kick off my shoes and step outside, eager to feel the sand beneath my feet. I keep an eye on Nik, watching him laugh with his friends. I get this warm, tingly feeling whenever I see him this happy. Since I accepted his proposal, he’s relaxed so much, practically glowing with satisfaction about our future together.

The night I agreed to marry him, he took me back to the Metropolitan Museum. He had it shut down for the night and pulled out all the stops for our date, even going so far as to book a three-star Michelin chef to prepare us dinner. Apparently, his original plan was to propose to me there, but his impatience got the best of him. After dessert, he made love to me in the grand hall until my voice went hoarse from screaming his name. Once I promised him we’d be together always and forever , he had one last thing to say as we were lying naked on the marble floors:

“Try to leave me. I dare you. Try it, and see what happens. Go to Ireland, go to Italy, go to the fucking moon if it pleases you, and see how long it takes for me to find you. Not even five minutes, I promise you. I love you, Kat. I don’t give a fuck if God himself wants to take you from me. I will always find you.”

His words caught me off guard, and I absorbed them slowly. “This might be the most romantic thing you’ve ever said to me.”

He scowled and shook his head. “I meant what I said. I’m being serious here. This isn’t just me trying to be romantic.”

“Well, if you were trying to be romantic, what would you say?”

He thought about my question for a moment. “I would teach you a new Russian word. Odnolyub . There’s no exact translation in English.”

“ Odnolyub ,” I said slowly, trying to pronounce it as he had.

He smiled. “That’s very good. It’s used to describe someone who can only love one person in their lifetime.”

“Are you saying you’re odnolyub ?”

“Since the day I met you.” Gazing into my eyes, he ran his fingers over my cheek and then firmly grasped my chin. “And God help me, you better be too, kiska .”

A smile tugged at my lips. “But what if you have a change of heart? A year from now, you might wish you never proposed to me. I’m messy, moody, and I spend too much money. I hate being told what to do, and you love bossing people around. This could be a night you live to regret.”

“The only thing I’ll regret is every moment you’re out of my sight. My last thought each night is that I can’t wait to wake up and spend the next day with you. My dreams never come close to the reality of you. If I could get away with it, I’d forbid you from leaving my presence. I dread spending a single second of the rest of my life without you, and I can’t stand the idea of sharing your time with anyone else. Maybe that means I’m selfish. That’s fine with me. Take it from a man who knows—no torture in this world compares to the pain of being apart from you. Think about that. I’ve already spent almost forty years without you. No more. Not one day.”

The feeling was mutual. No wonder I’ve pledged myself to him tonight.

As if sensing my thoughts, he glances up at me. His dark brown eyes light up, and his smile widens when he catches me staring. He immediately sets off towards me.

Judging by Dmitri and Lucien’s puzzled looks, I’d say Nik left their conversation mid-sentence. His friends just seem amused.

A heartbeat later, Nik joins me outside. Moonlight shines down on his jet-black hair, highlighting its blue undertones.

The color always brings to mind the night sky and infinity, brimming with shimmering stars and endless possibilities.

“I’ve been wondering where you are,” he says, as if I’ve been gone for hours. “What are you doing out here?”

I gaze up at him. “I was just enjoying the view and my drink—and my hot husband showing off his wedding ring.”

“You caught that, didn’t you?” He holds up his hand, his gigawatt grin firmly in place. “At last, I’m yours. Which means you’re mine.”

His arm circles my waist, his warmth and intoxicating scent surrounding me. Together we watch our friends celebrate.

After a while, I turn to him. “Do you think you’ll want me as much as you do today forty years from now?”

He cradles my face in his hands, and our gazes lock. “No. I’ll want you more. Every day, I fall deeper under your spell.”

I lay my hand over his heart, its steady rhythm so familiar and comforting. “Good. Because I’m going to want you for a lot longer than a few decades. I’m thinking forever will do.”

He leans down to brush his lips over mine. “Whatever my wife wants, she gets.”

Behind us, cheers and wolf whistles echo, and we grin as we kiss.

He pulls away, leaning closer to press his mouth to my ear. “I have an idea about Dmitri,” he whispers, his eyes lively. “Let’s run a little con on him. We can tackle the first phase tonight.”

Eyes wide, I press my hand to my chest. “Nik. I. Am. So”—I shake my head and swallow hard— “ proud of you!” I sigh, before murmuring, “ Spill .”

“I’d rather show you. Just follow my lead.”

He escorts me back inside, twirling me around as we cross the dance floor.

A.J. urged me to toss my bouquet as soon as the reception started. She shoved her way into the crowd of single women vying for it. I made sure to throw the flowers where no one else could catch them.

All the girls congratulated her, some more sincerely than others, but she paid them no mind. Instead, she marched straight to Lucien, wrapping her hands around his arm, eyes glowing with excitement. “How interesting , don’t you think?” she asked him.

He plastered a polite smile on his face for her, before glancing at me and Nik with a pleading look in his blue eyes.

Now, Nik and A.J. share a knowing glance before she goes to gather all the single men. It doesn’t escape my notice that she places Dmitri front and center. Then Nik pulls a chair out and motions for me to sit, giving me a wink.

Everyone crowds around us, cheering and laughing. Next thing I know, Nik’s kneeling before me, all too eager to remove my garter. The look he gives me has to be illegal in at least forty-eight states and could probably melt the polar ice caps.

When he smooths my dress up my legs, his dark brown eyes turn pitch black, and his hands shake with anticipation as he tugs down the white lace band. His touch lingers as he murmurs, “My God, kiska . You’re so soft. So warm. And you’re all mine. I might just change my mind, say to hell with this, and take you to bed.”

After Nik launches the garter over his shoulder, I watch it fly until the creamy lace hits Dmitri in the chest, dead center. If he hadn’t caught it, it would’ve fallen to the ground. A.J. looks at him appraisingly for a moment before telling the other girls: “Okay, I’ve had a change of heart. Forget Lucien—I’m calling dibs on Dmitri.”

Dmitri glares at me and Nik, narrowing his eyes at us accusingly, before shaking his head and heading to the bar.

Laughing, I turn to Nik, taking a sip from my champagne flute. A joke about Dmitri’s disastrous romantic life is on the tip of my tongue, but I lose my train of thought when I catch the intense look in Nik’s eyes.

“I believe the fireworks are supposed to start soon,” he says. “But you’ll be able to see them just fine from our bed.”

“Is that right?”

He takes my hand. “The day after we met, I pictured bringing you to this island and making love to you under the stars.”

“Was that before or after you learned I stole your diamond?” I ask him with a smile, thinking he’s teasing me.

But his dark eyes hold my gaze. “The instant I laid eyes on you, I was lost. All this beautiful brown hair and these sexy curves caught my eye like a magnet. From that first moment, you were the only woman in the world to me. I could feel my heart pounding in my chest, my blood racing through my veins, and it concerned me—deeply.”

I turn to face him fully. “Really?”

He nods. “When I registered the deep blue of your eyes, I couldn’t think straight. I thought there was something wrong with me. I worried I was losing my mind or getting sick.”

Hook. Line. Sinker. I bring my flute to my lips—my mouth suddenly dry—but the damn thing is empty. Somehow I’ve already drained it?

He takes a step closer to me, his eyes serious. “Tonight has been sheer torture for me—I hear your voice and see you, but I can’t touch you like I want to or consummate the vows we’ve made to each other. Enough is enough . Put me out of my misery and come with me. Come to my bed, and let me make you mine, once and for all.”

I wrap my arms around his neck. “I’m starting to think you can read my mind.”

Desire flares in his eyes. “Perhaps you’re right. Because something tells me you’re about to kiss me.” He grunts, “Do it, kiska .”

Enough is enough, indeed. I grab a handful of his hair, clasping him close, and rise up on my toes. Then I kiss my husband.