Chapter Four
Seeing Sofia’s tempting curves wrapped in silk and lace, Maxim could barely control himself.
For thirty days, Maxim had remained patient. A month, Lorenzo and Maxim had agreed, would be an acceptable period for a woman to grieve her losses.
It wasn’t as simple as that, Maxim knew. He had known loss and knew Aurora’s death would stay with Sofia for a long time. It would leave permanent scars, but duty came first. It always did.
Maxim smiled at his blushing bride, tempted to yank her close and finally taste those luscious, soft pink lips. He would take his time drinking her in and enjoying every inch of her delicious body.
Sofia might fight him, or perhaps she might surprise Maxim by submitting without complaint. Maxim’s lust wasn’t one-sided. He could read her body language like an open book. Sofia might not admit it out loud, but some part of her was attracted to him.
The moment Maxim spotted her standing by her sister’s casket, he had become intrigued. Smitten even. It was an inappropriate response given the circumstances, but it occurred to Maxim that this arrangement suited him perfectly after all.
The priest asked the two of them to say their vows. Maxim uttered the words in a rush. Sofia returned the words with dread, like a student giving her teacher what he wanted to hear. The vows didn’t matter. Maxim was incapable of love, but he would fulfill his duties to Sofia as a husband. Sofia did not know Maxim wanted a child badly, but she would soon.
Everyone attending this wedding knew this was all one big spectacle. The press already ate it all up.
The tragic loss of billionaire Lorenzo Bianchi turns into celebration as his youngest daughter marries Maxim Semenov.That would be the opening line on the front page of the local paper the next day.
They exchanged rings. Maxim slipped the white-gold wedding band on Sofia’s cold ring finger. He silently applauded her for not shaking or trembling as she returned the favor.
The heavy ring felt right on his finger, a symbol of a new chapter in his life.
Women flocked to Maxim all the time. He had taken plenty of them to bed before Sofia, but all of them had been mere distractions. None of them had fascinated Maxim as much as Sofia did.
“You may kiss the bride,” the priest said.
Sofia turned to Maxim, her exposed shoulders tense. She gripped the bouquet so hard that her gloved fingers pricked thorns, staining the white gloves pink.
Maxim touched her left cheek, and the gentle gesture seemed to catch her off-guard.
He plucked the roses from her fingers and tossed them to the ground, scattering red petals on the velvet carpeting. Maxim thumbed her cheekbones with his scarred and inked hands.So soft, Maxim thought, then leaned in close for a hungry kiss.
He didn’t hold back. She tasted as sweet as he imagined. Her lower lip trembled, and he sucked down on it softly.
The priest cleared his throat, but they both ignored him.
Sofia placed her hands on Maxim’s shoulders, and he rested one possessive hand over her lower back. Maxim pushed his tongue down her throat, and the little minx sucked down on it.
They stood so close now, with her heavy breasts pressed against his chest.
For a moment, Maxim debated ripping out all that expensive silk and lace. He wanted to expose his blushing naked bride for all the world to see, only to take her on the altar.
That was the beast in Maxim talking. He pulled away first, alarmed by the familiar and startling sound of gunfire.
“Maxim, get down!” Lev yelled.
Unthinkingly, Maxim yanked Sofia to him and pushed her down on the steps. Her doe brown eyes met his, full of terror and anxiety.
She survived a nightmare just like this one only recently, except a month ago, she didn’t have him.
“Come on. We’ll take cover behind the altar. Crawl, don’t walk,” Maxim ordered.
Sofia nodded. She still looked shaken, but he was glad to see she reacted well in situations like this.
She awkwardly got to her hands and knees and quickly scrambled behind the altar. Maxim followed swiftly on her heels, momentarily admiring the curve of her ass.
Focus on the firefight. Then you can admire your wife’s ass all you want later on.