Page 54 of Bedazzled
“She’s not even Russian! And her family isn’t important enough for a Morozov to marry an American…”
“He dumped a woman from one of the Bratva Six families for her?”
Tania’s jaw tightened, but she gave no sign she heard them, keeping her head high.
Staring down the loudest gossips, I raised her hands to my lips, kissing each one gently. My lips moved to her neck, breathing her in. “This is nothing, I believe, for a girl from Jersey. Isn’t that what you always told me?”
She chuckled softly. “Let’s blow these bitches right out of the water.” The orchestra lifted their bows for the next song as I slid my hand around her waist, and the strains of a Mikhail Glinka tune began the dance.
If I closed my eyes, we would be back in my living room in Manhattan, teaching her how to dance the waltz as she laughed giddily on every spin. It would be before the kidnapping and if I just stayed in that moment, surely, everything would be as it was and we would be allowed to be happy.
“Oh! It’s the “Masquerade Waltz!” Tania said, “I love this one!”
Chuckling, I spun her in wider and wider circles around the dance floor.
My wife danced like a queen; in perfect form with her long, elegant neck and shoulders thrown back. The long skirt of her gown swept around us and she wore her mysterious Mona Lisa smile, looking like royalty. Aprintsessa.
“Look!” Tania whispered happily as she spotted Alexi dancing with his daughter Yana. Winking at the thrilled girl, she gave her a thumb’s up.
“She is doing very well,” I murmured.
“Yana’s a natural,” she said, “but we practiced in the garden for six hours or so to make sure she perfected it. Look how well she’s doing!”
“You gave her the debut of a lifetime, I am impressed.”
“Hey, this is important!” Tania insisted, “This is such a huge moment for her. She has to look cool.” I spun her again in a looping series of circles, admiring her ability to care so much for a girl that she had met perhaps twice before.
“I’ve missed this,” I murmured.
She chewed absently on her lower lip. “So have I,” she admitted reluctantly. My gaze moved to the huge, gilded doors that opened to the gardens outside and I spun her in that direction, her footwork still flawless going backward and in high heels.
Once we were out in the night air, Tania took a deep, rapturous breath. “Oh, this is so amazing… I…” She eagerly stepped forward and nearly fell down the granite steps, flanked by the fountains leading down to the formal gardens.
“Hold on,” I grabbed her arm, bringing her upright. “This is a very bad time to break your neck, just as I’m about to sneak you into Catherine the Great’s bedroom.”
“What?”It came out in a shriek and she slapped her own hand over her mouth. “Seriously?”
I loved this woman. I loved her excitement for every new experience, I loved her enthusiasm for life, even while thrust abruptly into a new world with so few friends. “Yes,” I whispered, running my hands up and down her arms. “Catch your breath. I will arrange this.”
“Sovietnik?” It was Fedor, one of my newBrigadiers. “May I borrow you for a moment? There is a call from New York, a question…” he hesitated, looking at her.
“Go ahead,” she waved, “I’ll just wait here, rub my feet and quietly freak out with excitement.”
I kissed her hand again, loving the feel of her warm skin on my lips. “The Dutch Garden is right in front of you, but do not wander too far. I will be right back.” I nodded to Gavrill to follow her as she took off her high heels, holding up her skirt to keep from dragging it through the grass.
Tania…
This was turning out to be one hell of a night.
I looked amazing.
I made a friend. I think.
Yana launched into that waltz like a winner on Dancing with the Stars.
I danced with Yuri and it was even better than I remembered.
And my husband - shit have I ever even called him that? My husband has touched me more tonight than he has in the entire time we’ve been married.
