Page 10 of Bound Bride
I spin around him so quickly that several of my curls spill loose and drift across my shoulders.
Each step adds to the ache of my feet in these shoes and the slight tightness in my chest from the corset, but it's fun.
The music is amazing. People around us are laughing and dancing. My heart races, my skin warms and Kon's steady hands return to my waist when I'm back in front of him.
Any other hot-blooded man would be half-hard by now, but not Konstantin. On my next thrust against his hips, he seems entirely uninterested and my confidence wavers.
What am I missing?
Is it because we're in public? Men like Konstantin are possessive, but there are no threats here on our wedding day.
No one I can flirt with that might unlock this feral beast people have told me so much about. In that case, I need to change tactics.
"Goodness," I gasp as the song comes to an end and I lift both hands to push strands of my hair away from my face. "I am so thirsty. Get a drink with me?"
I don't give him a chance to answer.
Taking his hand, I begin pulling him through the crowd, but Konstantin seems to understand my goal immediately.
His grip on my hand grows firm and he walks slightly in front of me, forcing the crowd to part so that I don't have to slip around or dodge anyone.
A straight line opens up from the dance floor to our table and Konstantin leads the way without looking at me, while maintaining a pace that allows me to keep up in these painful high heels.
At our table, he pulls my chair out for me, guides it in as I sit, then lowers himself next to me and catches the attention of a passing waiter.
Whatever he says is stolen away by the music, but barely ten seconds later and two glasses of champagne arrive at our table along with a pitcher of lemon ice water.
Interesting.Ever the gentleman, it seems.
"Thank you," I say to the waiter. As I reach for the pitcher, Kon is once again one step ahead. He pours us both water, then slides one glass toward me. Taking it, I gulp down a few mouthfuls of the cool, clear water and moan softly as it immediately begins to soothe the heat rushing over my skin.
"It's so hot," I murmur. "Are you hot? I'm really hot."
"This is why I do not dance," Kon replies.
"The heat?"
He glances at me but doesn't reply, then turns his attention back out to the crowd and it's almost as if a door has closed.
Out on the dance floor, it was public and everyone was looking at us.
Back here at the table, it's quieter and we're not quite the center of attention. Was that the only reason he was open to talking to me—because people were watching us?
"So uhm… the man who came to collect me earlier, Calvin? He seems nice. Is he… a guard of yours or something? A friend?"
"A guard," Kon replies.
"Oh. And what about him?" Like a shadow, another man with unkempt blond hair has materialized behind us. "What's his name?"
"That is Ethan. My bodyguard."
I turn in my seat and flash him a smile. "Nice to meet you."
Ethan doesn't reply, but his brows tick up faintly in surprise.
"If you don't like dancing," I say as I turn back to Kon. "What do you like?" Leaning my elbow on the table, I pick up my champagne and sip slowly. "What keeps your mind stress-free?"
Kon's jaw ticks back and forth for a moment, then his lip rises as if he's sweeping his tongue across his teeth. "I like to read."
