Arranged Bratva Love

Adelaide

I was no longer a virgin.

Laying in the bath as my sore muscles attempted to relax, I knew it was part of Andrei’s plan. Now I couldn’t get an annulment. Is that why he had sex with me now? The tears wouldn’t stop. They kept falling from my eyes, even as I batted them away.

He said there was nothing going on between Bethany and him, but there was this … doubt. Why wouldn’t he want to be with her? They had been engaged before.

I was a fool to have let this happen. Having sex with Andrei didn’t prove anything to me. We weren’t a love match. This was business.

I covered my face, gritted my teeth, and prayed the tears would stop. I didn’t want to be one of those women who sobbed all the time.

If Andrei spoke the truth-and I saw no reason why he didn’t-then what did Bethany get out of it? What game did she play? Was it just to torment me? I wouldn’t put it past her. She lived for making me miserable, or at least whenever she thought I was happy, she went out of her way to make me the opposite.

Could she lure Andrei away? Did I want her to? Would it be easier if he cheated on me?

Our marriage was a farce. Nothing more than a business negotiation between my parents and Ivan. I wasn’t an important piece to any puzzle. I was the stand-in. The second choice.

Dipping my hands beneath the water, I lifted them up and pressed them against my face. The last thing I wanted Andrei to see was my tears. I’d always imagined my first time being with someone who loved me and whom I loved. Did I love Andrei? The simple answer was no. I didn’t know him.

I splashed more water onto my face, hoping to wipe the evidence of my tears away before he came back. This was not a time to be emotional, even though I’d lost my virginity. It had been painful.

Andrei’s eyes had stared into mine, and for a brief time, I thought we had a connection, but that couldn’t be the case. I was going crazy right now.

“I’ve cleaned the bed,” Andrei said, entering the bathroom.

Glancing over my shoulder, I’m aware of his nakedness even more now. I couldn’t help but see the evidence of my virginity against his … dick.

I turned away to stare back in the water, expecting him to leave me alone. He surprised me by moving past me and climbing right into the tub. Everything Andrei owned was of the best quality and high luxury, including his bathtub, which could have easily held an orgy.

“Talk to me, Adelaide.” His voice was deep, demanding.

“There’s nothing to talk about.”

“This was your first time. You don’t have any girlfriends to talk to.”

I couldn’t help but flinch at his assessment. He wasn’t wrong.

Wrapping my arms around myself, I tried to sink beneath the water and the bubbles. He’d put in some bath salts, I assumed to help with the aches and pains.

“Don’t hide.”

“I’m not hiding.”

“I’m not fucking your sister.”

I lifted my gaze to his and he cursed, closing the distance between us and pulling me into his arms. I started to fight him, wriggling against him, hoping to get free, but he was much stronger than me, and water kept sloshing over the sides, which annoyed me. I didn’t want to make a mess, but I also didn’t want him to hold me.

“Let me go.”

“I’m not doing this with you,” he said. “Bethany is fucking toxic. She’s only interested in ruining lives. She hates that you’re my wife. That you get all the luxury, not her. Why can’t you see that?”

He moved us so that I was beneath him, and all it would take was for him to dunk me under the water and hold me in place. Would he do it? Drown me? Had my life come to this?

“Please don’t kill me,” I said. My voice broke with every word I spoke and I hated how desperate I sounded.

Andrei tightened. His hands still held me in place and the water covered most of my body from the neck down. I’d surprised him.

“I’m not going to kill you.”

I couldn’t help but be doubtful. This was a man whose life was devoted to killing-I thought.

“Adelaide, you will always be safe.”

“Then why do I need a bodyguard?”

“I’ll never kill you.”

“Unless I betray Ivan Volkov?”

I saw his jaw clench.

“You’re not going to do that.”

“What if I want to?” I asked. “What if I want to put an end to this life, and just be done with it? To be at peace. I never asked for this. I never asked for any of this.” He pressed one of his hands against my mouth, silencing me.

“Do not ever fucking threaten that. You don’t want to die, Adelaide. You’re trying to cope with the shit your sister is trying to fill your head with. I’ll get to the bottom of what Bethany wants, but until then, do not throw out useless threats. You don’t deserve to die, and I won’t allow you to sign our death warrants.”

I frowned. “Ours?”

Andrei smiled. “Don’t you get it? You go down, I go with you.”

“No.” I shook my head, denying it. That couldn’t be.

“You’d never do anything to harm him. You’re his … man.”

“And do you think Ivan would trust me if my wife so blatantly betrayed him? It would kill him.”

“You’re in charge.”

“Only for as long as I can be trusted.”

This had to be a trick. The thought of Andrei dead twisted my stomach. He couldn’t die because of me. My threats were idle. I’d never betray Ivan, even if I hated being married.

Today had reminded me of what Ivan and Andrei had gotten me away from, and that was my family. My parents and sister were horrible. Being near them could poison the best of people.

“I won’t do it,” I said. “I didn’t mean it.”

Andrei searched my gaze and nodded his head. “I know.”

He lifted up, and helped me to sit up as well. Andrei moved in behind me. The warmth of his body surrounded me. I watched as he reached past my shoulder, grabbing a bar of soap and lathering up his hands.

No words were spoken.

His hands went to my body, and I held my breath as he started to wash me. I expected pain. After the way I’d just spoken and treated him, I should have gotten it. Other men would have beaten me.

“I’ve spoken with Slavik,” Andrei said. “We’re going to visit them soon. You can spend some time with Aurora.”

“Thank you.”

“I know you’ve not seen much of each other, but you seemed to hit it off at the wedding.”

Anyone would have been a welcome relief at our wedding, other than Bethany and my mother. Aurora had been a breath of fresh air. She looked so out of place next to her husband. Sweet and innocent. I felt like she didn’t deserve to be part of this Bratva world.

“Do you like Slavik?” I asked.

“He’s got good business sense.”NôvelDrama.Org content rights.

“That’s not what I asked.”

“I never like anyone, Adelaide.”

He used his hands soaked in water to rinse my body. Andrei reached for the soap and I didn’t deny him as he washed my hair, taking care as he used shampoo then conditioner.

I wanted to do the same for him, but I shouldn’t have been surprised. He wouldn’t want me touching him, and I understood why. After my outburst, why would he want me to touch him?

Andrei got out of the bath first and wrapped a towel around his waist. I couldn’t help but admire the tattoos covering his body. I’d not gotten the chance to properly look, but they were sexy. Heat filled my cheeks.

Andrei helped me out of the bath, wrapping me in a towel. We walked into the bedroom together and I looked toward the bed, to see clean, crisp sheets were already on. I wanted to know what happened to the other sheets, but to speak of what happened made me a little uncomfortable. There had been blood and his release combined. When I’d walked into the bathroom, I’d felt it spilling down my leg with each step I took. I was grateful none ended up on the carpet. There was only so much embarrassment I could deal with.

Andrei wasn’t finished with his caring routine. He had a second towel within his grip, and he used it across my shoulders. He gave me the towel to dry my hair, but he wasn’t finished drying the rest of my body. I was about to head into the closet after he took the towels back to the bathroom, but he grabbed my arm and moved me toward the bed.

It was warm in the room.

Both of us still completely naked. He moved me so I sat in front of him.

I waited.

He slowly ran the brush through my hair, and the kind gesture surprised me. I wasn’t expecting it. Andrei was a cold man, why was he being so nice to me? It made no sense.

I didn’t say a word as he continued brushing my hair. Whenever he got to a knot, he held my hair and worked it out so that it didn’t hurt. Was he treating me like a child? I felt not. This was something new, intimate. I pressed my lips together not wishing to spoil the moment as I enjoyed his hands on me. They were so tender.

Once he finished, he helped me into bed, and I lay down. At first, I faced away from him, sensing him at my back. It was late and I’d not eaten anything all day. Rolling back over, I looked at him. Andrei stared at me. Neither of us spoke.

I didn’t want to break this … whatever the hell this was. He kept looking at me. What did he see? What did he feel? I had so many questions I wanted to ask him, but I stayed silent.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he reached out, putting his hand against my cheek, leaning in close, and kissing my head. I waited with bated breath as his arms surrounded me, and then his warmth flooded my body. I wrapped my arms around him, afraid I would make a wrong move or completely mess this up.

He kissed my head again and hummed against me. This was nice. I liked how he smelled and I loved how comfortable I felt in his arms. I never wanted this to end. I smiled against his chest and closed my eyes.

Of course, my body had other ideas. The lack of food made itself known as my stomach chose that moment to growl. I didn’t know what embarrassed me more-the evidence of my virginity, my jealous outburst, or my crazy hungry stomach.

Andrei chuckled. “I knew we’d forgotten to do something.” He kissed her head. “I’ll feed you.”

The moment was lost, all because my stomach couldn’t stay quiet. Stupid hunger.