5. Bianca

5

BIANCA

“ Bambina .”

I whirl, almost spilling my fresh glass of champagne all over my father.

“ Papino ?”

“I have to go.”

I frown as my father’s eyes start to glisten. I’m frozen for a moment, wondering if the alcohol is making me hallucinate.

Is Emilio Bellucci about to cry?

“Don’t be sad, Papino .” I sigh, reaching for his hand. “I know you didn’t have a choice, and while it might take me a while to come to terms with this…situation, I still love you.”

My father nods, taking my hand in both of his and squeezing tightly. “I’m sorry it had to be like this.”

“I appreciate that.”

His face remains riddled with devastation.

I’m taken aback by the level of emotion on my father’s face.

He’s not normally one to show such feelings, and the sight of him like this is making my stomach knot .

“It’ll all be okay in the end, Papino .”

“I love you very much, mia stellina .” His smile doesn’t reach his eyes.

I don’t know what is going on. I want to laugh, but I want to cry too.

From the way he’s acting, it’s like he’s never going to see me again. But it’s not like I’ll be moving to another country. We can still see each other all the time.

“I’ll see you soon, Papino .” I stand on my tiptoes to press a kiss to his cheek.

He bows his head and turns, walking away without another word.

Before I have a chance to overthink my father’s sudden expression of emotion, I head straight back to the bar, determined to drown my sorrows in unlimited champagne.

I must be almost two bottles deep by the time a strong hand is on my waist and hot breath is tickling my cheek.

“I think it’s time to call it a night, wife ,” Alexei murmurs.

I let my eyes flutter closed for a moment, enjoying the heat radiating from his large body.

Perhaps it’s the alcohol causing my body to arch back against him, to let out a contented sigh as both of his hands find my hips, his fingers digging into the soft flesh.

“Bianca…”

“Time for bed.” I turn around to face Alexei.

My eyes trail up his broad chest until they lock onto his, the warm chocolate of his eyes devouring me whole .

He really is extremely attractive, and according to the state of New York, mine for the taking.

A grin pulls at my lips.

“What?” He frowns.

“It’s our wedding night,” I whisper.

A strangled sort of sound escapes his lips, and I laugh.

“That’s your cue to go to bed.” Alexei drops his hands from my waist and takes me by the arm, leading me out of the slowly emptying ballroom.

I hurry beside him, hiccups mixed with giggles escaping me as I imagine fucking Alexei Koslov .

My heart hammers in my chest as he drags me into the elevator, pressing the button for the penthouse suite.

I steal glances at Alexei as we ascend the nine floors to the top of the Waldorf.

His body is rigid, his shoulders set as he stands slightly in front of me. Let my eyes trail down his back, I linger on his ass which looks incredible in his suit trousers.

“Stop it,” he warns without looking my way.

“Stop what?” A string of hiccups makes me giggle.

“Eye-fucking me from behind.”

“You were eye-fucking me most of the day. I think it’s only fair that I get my share, husband .” I bite the inside of my cheek as Alexei’s body tenses at my words.

If he turns around, will there be any evidence to suggest he liked what he saw?

But he remains still, reaching behind to take my arm as the elevator opens, and pulls me along as we step into the penthouse suite.

I can’t stop the alcohol-induced giggles from spilling from my mouth as he leads me across the expansive living area to the bedroom at the far end .

One look at the giant bed and the giant of a man beside me has me squeezing my thighs together.

“Sleep.” He drops his hold on me.

“I know I should be furious because of this situation I find myself in.” I lick my lips as I run my fingertips across the soft sheets. “But as I think of what we could do in this bed, I’m struggling to stay mad.” I sigh, glancing at Alexei.

His face looks pained as he regards the enormous bed before us.

“I think we should both get some sleep. We have a long day tomorrow.” Alexei steps away from the bed, from me .

I pout. “I don’t want to sleep.”

I reach for the zipper at the side of my dress.

Alexei’s eyes follow my movements, and his gaze turns heated as he watches me slowly pull the zip down.

“I was thinking maybe we could do another sort of bedroom activity.”

“Bianca.” Alexei’s throat bobs.

I grin as I release the zip, and my dress pools to the floor, leaving me in nothing but a pair of pink lacy panties.

“Whoops.” I chuckle, glancing down at bare breasts. “Forgot I wasn’t wearing a bra.”

Reaching up, I cup my full breasts.

I look up under my lashes at Alexei and his expression is glazed as he watches me knead my breasts. Sighing, I roll thumbs over my pebbling nipples.

I pull my lower lip between my teeth as Alexei takes in my body.

My eyes trail down his chest, pausing as I take in the impressive bulge in his pants.

A soft whimper escapes me at the sight, and I want nothing more than to sink to my knees and take him in my mouth .

“Alexei.” I step out of the dress, taking a step toward him.

I need him. This feeling is all-consuming.

He keeps his arms plastered at his sides, clearly trying his best to restrain himself as I close the distance between us.

“Kiss me… husband ,” I murmur as I sink my fingers into Alexei’s shirt and pull his mouth down to mine.

The moment his lips touch mine, my body melts.

I cling to his shirt, desperately trying to get closer to him, to feel the soft material of his shirt against my aching nipples.

My tongue darts out to trace his lower lip, urging him to part his mouth for me.

His hands grip my shoulders, and he pushes me away, leaving me confused.

“You’re clearly drunk, solnyshka ,” Alexei murmurs. “I won’t take advantage of you like this.”

“We’re married.” My cheeks burn as I glance down at my almost naked body, wiggling my hips to try and entice my new husband into bed. “You vowed to satisfy my every sexual need.”

Alexei huffs a laugh, the sound sending a shiver down my spine.

My nipples instantly harden as he takes a step toward me, his eyes burning into me as he takes in my curves.

“I did,” he grunts, his hands moving to adjust his bulge.

I let my eyes follow his hand and gasp at the view.

“Well?” I press, my voice breathy as I rub my thighs together.

“While I’d want nothing more, ptichka , you have some issues to work out before we take things further. So, I suggest we both get some sleep. ”

The little nicknames he calls me do something to me, and I want more from him.

“You’re not serious.” I cross my arms over my chest to try and shield myself.

“I’m deadly serious.”

“There’s a naked woman practically throwing herself at you, and you’re saying no ?”

Alexei’s eyes close for a moment, as if it’s taking everything in him to keep himself composed.

I try to ignore the dull ache that is building between my thighs as I take in his huge stature.

The way he’s rolled his white shirt to the elbows, exposing his muscular forearms. How he’s undone one too many buttons to reveal a hint of dark chest hair that has my mouth watering.

He opens his eyes and takes another step toward me and bends down so that his breath is tickling my ear.

My back instantly arches, my nipples aching for any form of friction he can offer me.

“I am no stranger to that fact, ptichka , but you are now my wife ,” he murmurs. “And I refuse to use you when you are in a vulnerable state, especially to satisfy my own need for release.”

A strangled sound escapes me at his words, filling my mind with all sorts of filthy thoughts.

I’m no virgin by any means, but my experience consists of a few sloppy one-night stands in various Manhattan club bathrooms, a summer fling during my sophomore year of college, and a yearlong relationship with a guy who ended up cheating on me with one of my friends.

The boys I’ve been with barely know how to put on a condom correctly, let alone get a woman off. I need a man.

I need Alexei.

He reeks of experience, and I know he’d need no guidance in getting me off.

“Now, don’t make me tell you again, get some sleep.”

My cheeks burn at his rejection.

I guess part of me was wanting to have some ounce of control over how this day ended, seeing as the rest of it was so far out of it. But as the alcohol is starting to wear off, and I realize I’m wearing nothing but a pair of panties in front of a man I met only a few hours ago who also happens to be my husband, I feel nothing but embarrassment.

“I’ll take the couch,” I mutter, walking past Alexei into the bedroom.

His eyes weigh on me as I grab my bag that has been put on the armchair and start rifling through it for something to put on before going to bed.

“There’s no need for you to sleep on the couch.”

I keep my back to Alexei as I pull an old college T-shirt on over my head and slide a pair of cotton shorts over my thighs, only because I don’t want him to look at me like I’m some juvenile charity case.

“Well, it’s more than obvious we’re not sharing a bed.” I adjust my T-shirt before turning to face him.

He’s leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed, a deep frown between his eyebrows as he looks over me.

“And stop looking at me like that .”

“Like what?”

“Like I’m about to shatter into a million pieces.”

“Bianca…”

I freeze at the sound of my name on his lips.

“You are far from fragile.”

“Then why won’t you touch me? ”

“Because the first time I fuck my wife, I want her to be sober. I want to know it’s her wanting me, not the alcohol.”

My eyes flick up to meet Alexei’s, and it’s clear how he would take me.

There would be nothing gentle about it.

I fight a moan as I imagine him bending me over the edge of this bed and sinking so deep inside me I might break in two.

“I will not ask you a third time, solnyshka . Go to bed .”

I scowl as his words break through my lust-filled fantasy.

To show my annoyance, I grab the comforter off the bed and tuck a pillow under my arm, intent on sleeping as far away from my husband as possible.

Though, I don’t make it far.

Alexei grips hold of my arm as I pass through the door.

“Bed. Now.”

I glance up at him, narrowing my eyes at his commanding tone.

“No.”

He lets out a long breath, any amusement at my disobedience now replaced with irritation.

“If you are so adamant not to share a bed with me tonight, that’s fine. But I will be the one taking the couch,” He reaches for the pillow tucked under my arm.

I blink, too stunned to fight him as he reaches for the comforter.

“Good night, wife ,” he murmurs before stalking away toward the couch.