10. Bianca

10

BIANCA

“I have a request.”

Alexei’s at his usual seat at the counter, watching me over the top of his coffee mug as I potter about the kitchen.

He watched me in silence as I made the coffee which unnerved me. I was expecting a few teasing comments about what we did last night, but so far there’s been nothing.

His gaze has been almost indifferent.

Does he regret what we did? Was that why he left so abruptly afterwards?

I stayed in my studio and worked on the painting of him to try and sort through my emotions.

We shouldn’t have slept together, it crossed so many boundaries. But the way he was looking at me like he wanted to devour me had me losing control of all my morals.

It’s been so long since someone looked at me like that.

“A request?” Alexei raises an eyebrow.

“Yes.” I lean against the counter top, clutching my own coffee to keep my hands busy. To stop myself from crossing the distance between us and sinking my fingers into the soft fabric of his shirt.

His hands will go to my hips, lifting me onto the counter where he’ll pull down my shorts and bury his face between my thighs, sinking his tongue deep inside my pussy…

“Bianca?”

“Huh?”

“You had a request for me?” Alexei chuckles, as if he can read every thought racing through my mind on my face, and from the way his gaze darkens, I know he’s thinking the same thing.

“Uh, yes. I do.” I clear my throat. “I want to see Zara.”

“Zara?”

“My best friend.”

Alexei frowns, setting his mug down and folding his arms across his chest.

“I haven’t seen her for weeks, and she doesn’t even know I’m married.”

“Bianca—”

“I know what you are going to say, but Zara can be trusted. I’ve known her most of my life and to have gone through such a huge life change without her has been hard. I just… I want my old life back, or at least part of it. I haven’t even been able to call her. You took away my phone, my car, everything! If I can only go and visit her, I promise I won’t tell her the truth behind our marriage, and I’ll even take security with me if you really want.”

Alexei contemplates me for a moment, his eyes searching my face.

It takes everything in me not to look away.

“This is important to you.”

“Very.”

His shoulders heave as he lets out a long breath.

“I have terms. ”

My stomach flutters as I realize seeing Zara might actually be a possibility.

“She will come to the house, and I will have someone collect her in a car to bring her here.”

I open my mouth to object, to demand that he not be so controlling, but I also want to acknowledge the fact that he’s meeting me halfway.

“I appreciate that.”

“And I hope this goes without saying but you cannot, under any circumstances, tell her the real reason behind our marriage, ptichka .”

“I’m not sure I even know the real reason.”

My stomach is a bundle of nerves as I put on some makeup at my vanity to try and hide the dark circles under my eyes.

Zara’s going to be here any minute, and I have no idea how I’m going to explain to her that I got married and moved out of the city without telling her a damn thing.

She’s going to be pissed as hell.

I quickly run a brush through my hair and throw it up into a ponytail before hurrying down the two flights of stairs at the sound of car tires crunching across gravel.

“She’s here.” I’m almost vibrating.

Zara’s more than a best friend to me. She’s my rock. My ride or die.

Growing up an only child and with a father as overbearing as mine meant I was lonely a lot of the time.

But when I went away to college and met Zara when we were rooming together freshman year, it was like I had found the sister I had always wanted .

So, to have gotten married without her even knowing…

I swallow the lump in my throat as I open up the front door and plaster a smile on my face as Zara climbs out of the ridiculously obnoxious blacked-out Hummer and stalks toward me.

Her green eyes are narrowed on me as she climbs the few steps up to the front door, her arms folded across her chest as she looks over me.

“I think somebody has some explaining to do.” She raises her eyebrows.

Where I am petite and dark-haired and tan-skinned, Zara’s the opposite. With pale skin, blonde hair, and legs to die for, she’s like a walking Victoria’s Secret model.

I huff a nervous laugh and open the door wider.

“Coffee?”

Zara follows behind me, deathly quiet, as I take us through to the kitchen and get to work making a fresh pot of coffee.

She perches at the counter, in the very seat Alexei was in only a few hours ago, and I briefly fill her in on my news, keeping the details as minimal as possible.

“Married?”

I cringe at the tone in her voice, but nod.

“Yes.”

“You got married.”

“It was a last-minute thing?—”

“You got married ?”

“Zara, you need to understand?—”

“I didn’t even know you were dating anyone.”

My chest feels like it’s being cracked open at the hurt in her eyes.

“Well, I wasn’t, really…”

“But you got married. ”

“You keep repeating it.”

“Because it doesn’t make any sense!” Zara huffs. “You weren’t dating, but you married a guy? A guy who, by the looks of it, is fucking loaded and requires me to travel with a bodyguard just to see you for coffee! You haven’t answered any of my texts or calls for weeks. Honestly, if it wasn’t for the fact that your dad told me you lost your phone, I would’ve called the police. Seriously, B, what the hell is going on? Because this is starting to freak me out.”

I open my mouth to reply, but I don’t have the words to explain. Not in a way that would make Zara not feel so betrayed.

“Why didn’t you at least invite me?” Her voice wobbles. “Did you not want me there?”

“Zara.” I sigh, crossing over to the island and sliding into the stool beside her.

Reaching for her hand, I clutch it tightly, hoping that she can hear the sincerity in my voice. “I wish you were there. But in truth, it wasn’t even really a wedding. We signed the documentation and that was it. It was all so rushed, I barely had a moment to get my head around it.”

“Did he force you into this?” She glances over her shoulder as if worried we might be overheard.

Knowing Alexei, there’s cameras in every room in this house, so it would make no difference. I wouldn’t be surprised if he was up in his office watching over this entire interaction right now.

“N-no, nothing like that.” I force my mouth into a smile that I hope reflects more ‘marital bliss’ rather than ‘arranged marriage with mafia lord’. “Trust me, you’re the only person I would’ve wanted there.”

“This is a lot to take in.” She sinks her teeth into her lower lip. “I don’t even know the guy. ”

Neither do I .

“I know, Zara. I’m so sorry. I hope you can forgive me.” My voice cracks at the thought of Zara not being able to let this go.

What if we can’t get past this?

“We’re best friends. Of course, I forgive you.”

“You do?”

She wraps her arms around my shoulders and hugs me tightly.

I screw my eyes shut to try and keep the tears from falling.

“Of course. I mean, it might take me some time to get used to all of this—” She gestures to the enormous kitchen. “—but it’s not worth losing you over. I’m sure you had a good reason to keep this quiet.”

“I don’t deserve you,” I mumble into her shoulder, clinging to her so tightly.

“Marriage has turned you into a weeping mess, B.” She chuckles softly, and the sound is like music to my ears. “Now, how about a tour of the new digs?”

We tour the ground floor of the house, and with each room Zara’s eyes get bigger and bigger to the point I’m worried they might pop out of her head.

“What is it your husband does again?”

“He, uh… He’s an entrepreneur.” I try not to visibly cringe.

Before Zara has the opportunity to ask any more questions that I don’t have the answer to, we reach my new studio.

I open the door and step inside, my blood heating as my eyes land on the cream loveseat against the wall.

“Holy shit.”

“I know.” I smile, looking around the room .

“What is that ?” Zara points at the canvas resting on my easel.

My cheeks burn as images of last night flood my mind.

“Uh… That…”

“That is a very naked man!” Zara laughs, hurrying over to the easel to admire the portrait.

After Alexei left last night to go back to his office, I stayed working on his portrait until my eyes were so heavy with fatigue that I eventually crawled into bed at almost 6am. Though, my body clock had me up less than an hour later.

“Yes, it is.” My cheeks are blazing.

“I didn’t realize you painted such… erotica .”

“It’s not erotica.” Though, what followed certainly was.

“Wait a minute…” Zara’s eyes narrow as she studies the painting. “Is that your husband?”

She glances over her shoulder at me.

I sheepishly nod, and her eyes light up.

“He’s… Wow, is it to scale?”

“Zara!”

“What?” Zara laughs. “I need to know that the man my best friend married is satisfying her.”

“Oh, my god,” I groan, burying my face in my hands. “I’m starting to regret inviting you over here.”

“I have no regrets.” Zara places her hands on her hips, tilting her head to the side as she admires my work. “I can see why you married the man on the spot, with a dick like that.”

“ Zara !”

“Maybe I should get into painting.” She laughs.

“There is no way you’d be able to stare at a naked man for hours on end without fucking him. ”

“True… But I bet it would make for incredible foreplay.” She looks at me with a knowing look in her eye.

“I wouldn’t know…” I choke out.

“I need details, now .”

My cheeks are burning hot by the time Zara and I head back to the kitchen following our very detailed conversation about Alexei’s cock. It only intensifies when we walk into the kitchen to find Alexei leaning against the counter sipping a double espresso.

I had hoped that one night with Alexei would be enough to get it out of my system. That it was the mystery of him that I was so intoxicated by.

How wrong I was…

Knowing what it’s like to feel his warm skin beneath my fingertips, to have the sounds of his rough grunts as he fucks me ring in my ears has me so wet and hot between my thighs that I have to stifle a moan.

Alexei’s eyes darken as he looks at me, and I know that he’s thinking the exact same thing.

“Hi, I’m Zara.”

Alexei blinks and turns to face my friend, the picture of ease as he sets his cup down and strolls over to us.

“Pleasure to meet you, Zara, I’m Alexei.” He holds out a hand for her to shake. “I trust you arrived here okay?”

I glance at Zara and notice a pink tinge to her cheeks as she looks up at Alexei.

“I felt like a celebrity.” She laughs.

Amusement dances in Alexei’s eyes as he observes Zara.

“And this house is incredible . ”

“Thank you.” Alexei dips his chin. “You’re welcome any time.”

His eyes snap to mine, and my breath hitches in my throat at the warmth in his expression.

“Thank you,” I mouth, and he flashes me a wink.

But then his eyes flick to something behind us, and his jaw instantly clenches.

“Aren’t you going to introduce me?” a deep male voice sounds from behind us.

I whirl, my hand going to my chest as I take in the towering presence of who I can only assume is one of Alexei’s brothers, given the dark hair and impressive build.

“And who is this?” Zara raises her eyebrows.

“I’m Dimitri.” He crosses the room in a handful of strides and offers a hand for Zara to shake. “Alexei’s brother.”

I try to hide my surprise as Zara takes Dimitri’s hand.

I catch Alexei’s eye, and he’s frowning as he sinks his hands into the pockets of his pants.

“Good to see you again, Bianca.” Dimitri flashes me a grin.

I force a smile, trying to hide the fact that this is the first conversation I’ve shared with my now brother-in-law.

How I would get around explaining that to Zara I have no idea.

Alexei fold his arms over his chest. “Dimitri was just leaving.”

“Was I?” Dimitri’s eyes lock back on Zara.

I don’t miss the way they rake over her body, and I’m instantly reaching for her arm to pull her away. The last thing I want is for Zara to get caught up in the twisted web that is the Koslov family.

“Yes, you were,” Alexei warns .

“Shame.” Dimitri’s tongue darts out to lick his lips. “You look like you know how to have some fun.”

Zara looks him up and down. “And you look like you have too much fun.”

I freeze, but then Dimitri is throwing his head back and howling with laughter.

“Oh, I like her.” He grins. “She can visit more often.”

“Maybe when you’re not here,” Alexei mutters.

“Well, I can always give you my number, pcholka , and I can show you how much fun I am.”

“Dimitri…” Alexei groans, but his brother only grins.

“Thanks for such an incredible offer, but I think I’ll pass.” Zara shrugs. “I can spot a player a mile away. Besides, I prefer my men when they’re not riddled with sexually transmitted diseases.”

I glance at Alexei who’s trying to fight a smile as Dimitri is shocked into silence.

I bet he doesn’t get turned down very often, looking the way he does. Perhaps he’ll do well to have Zara knock his ego down a peg or two.

“I’ll walk you out.” Alexei places a hand on his brother's shoulder and guides him out of the kitchen.

“Well, I think you’ve officially won over Alexei.” I laugh as Zara watches Dimitri be escorted out of the kitchen.

She frowns. “And the brother by the looks of it.”

Zara stays for most of the afternoon, and she fills me in with life back in the city.

I try to seem happy as I listen to her ramble on about our favorite spots for coffee by Central Park and the new workout classes she’s tried, but it only makes me feel resentful.

How could my father have ripped my life out from underneath me like this?

What hurts even more is that he hasn’t bothered to reach out since the wedding, which hurts more than I care to admit. We might not be the closest, but I would have at least thought he’d want to make sure I was okay.

So, I decide to take matters into my own hands.

I no longer have a cell after Alexei confiscated it the night of our wedding, but that doesn’t mean aren’t other options.

Zara is about to leave, but before she does, I take my chance.

“Zara, since I lost my phone, is it okay that I use yours to call my dad? I haven’t talked to him in forever.”

She smiles. “Sure.” Rummaging through her bag, she retrieves it and hands it to me. “Here.”

I dial the number to my dad’s cell and step away from my friend to try and get some privacy.

My stomach starts to knot as the phone begins to ring, anxious about what I might say.

I know we left things amicably on the night of my wedding, but I still can’t shake the betrayal I feel that he would give me away to a stranger as easily as he did. The fact that I’ve also now slept with Alexei Koslov complicates things a little, but my father does not need to be made aware of that information.

After a minute, my father still hasn’t picked up, and I realize that perhaps he might be avoiding me.

When it hits voicemail, I hang up the phone. “You can’t hide forever, Papino .”