Page 73 of Silken Chains
“Just focus on not keeling over during your surgery,” I shoot a look at the doctor then back at my father.
His laughter booms across the table, startling a few of the distant cousins into spilling their drinks. “Cocky as ever,” he retorts, eyes twinkling despite the weariness. “Remember, boy, you’ll be in my shoes one day, old and nagging someone younger to take it easy on you.”
I can’t help but snort, leaning back in my chair. “By then, I’ll have someone to boss around, too, won’t I?”
He nods, a serious glint replacing the mirth. “That’s why finding the right woman, one to bear heirs, is critical. You think I want our legacy to crumble?”
The atmosphere in the room subtly shifts. Some guests discreetly nod in agreement with my father’s statement, avoiding direct eye contact. Meanwhile, Dimitry offers a muted smirk, partially concealing it behind his napkin. Yuri, on the other hand, remains engrossed in his phone, sipping his wine without any visible reaction, seemingly waiting for a message or call.
I meet my father’s gaze squarely. “Legacy’s one thing, but chaining myself to someone just for heirs? That’s another ballgame.”
Ksenia leans forward, taking a slow sip of her wine, leaving a bold red lipstick mark on the glass. “And yet, you’ve chosen someone… unconventional. Bold move, brother.”
Her comment draws a round of murmured assents and a few disapproving clucks from the wives of my cousins, their entertainment clear. But a single sharp glance from me and their giggles die in their throats.
“Unconventional or not,” I assert firmly, my tone leaving no room for debate, “she’s got what’s needed.” I scan the table, my gaze a clear command for silence. “And if you’re all done psychoanalyzing my choices, I’d like to eat in peace.”
I tap my glass, annoyed that it’s been empty too long. A server rushes over, refilling it as my gaze drifts to the two empty seats beside me. Eli’s missing too.
Ksenia catches my glance, her smirk telling. “You are right, brother,” she says, casually placing her napkin on her lap. “Tonight, we are going here to welcome Victor’s new wife.”
Ah, there it is. Ksenia giving me that look. Like she’s already plotting ten ways to make Laura’s night hell.
I knock back a bigger gulp of wine, its sharp tang mirroring my frustration. Then I hear Eli’s voice, bright and excited, from the other side of the door. “She’s finally here, everyone!”
The door creaks open.
My heart stops, my breath catches, and there, in that sliver of a moment, everything changes.
I gasp at the sight…
Chapter 27
Victor
EVERY HEAD in the room turns.
My cousins let out dry coughs, their wives glaring at them for their obvious reactions as Laura steps into the room hand in hand with Eli.
For a moment, it’s as if everything slows down.
There she is.
She’s fucking stunning, draped in a flowing beige chiffon dress that accentuates her every movement, her skin glowing in the soft light.
I can’t help it—my skin prickles with something akin to pure desire as I watch her approach. Laura’s self-assured steps falter just slightly, her eyes meeting mine across the room.
I stand up, almost robotic as I pull out her chair.
Weird. I’m acting like she’s got me under some damn spell.
The scent of jasmine and vanilla hits me like a punch to my cock. It’s impossible to ignore the throbbing between my legs as I inhale her intoxicating aroma.
Goddamn, she makes me horny as fuck.
I let my hand glide over her shoulder, a raw, intimate gesture. “You’re late,” I say bluntly.
Her body stiffens, and she inhales sharply. I can tell she’s biting back some snarky response.
