Now she looked more at ease, I could see the tension in her shoulders ease up, and she leaned back against the wall. “This is only a marriage of convenience. I will call you nothing but your name.”
Now I laughed. After all the teasing, in her bedroom, and at that restaurant, she had to be joking. Her desire for me was so damned obvious it could have directed traffic. “Katya Kitten,” I started, moving closer to her. I loved the feeling of her chest against mine. “I am single-handedly the biggest pervert you will find in this fucking city. The things I plan on doing to you, you will not believe. Since we have met, I’ve wanted to see you wearing nothing but sweat, so if you think I’m going to allow this to be a marriage of convenience, you have grossly overestimated my ability to resist temptation.”
Katya leaned closer, her nose brushing gently over mine, her eyes on me, and her breath hot against my lips. “And if I refuse?”
I leaned closer and tilted my head as if I was going to kiss her. Her breath caught in her throat, and her eyes flickered down.
But I didn’t kiss her. Instead, I whispered gently, almost against her lips. “Then you’ll find out that along with being a big pervert, I’m also a master at seduction.” Then I leaned back and finally took a step back as well.
Katya’s smile was like that of a predator.
“Then, you have given me something to look forward to in this sham of a marriage, Mr. Sorvino. Don’t disappoint me.” She completed and walked away.
I couldn’t if I tried, I thought as I watched her walk.
Chapter 14 - Katya
The wedding was a whirlwind of our business partners, political connections, and Sorvinos.
Paulina had insisted, almost violently, that Sam planned the wedding. We had a bachelorette party that was just us in Rome. We relaxed and shopped for my wedding dress and bridesmaids’ dresses.
The ceremony was small. It was at a catholic church, and it was the first time I’d stepped into one since college.
My father looked at me in my gleaming white wedding dress and gave me the warmest hug. “Malyshka.”
It was supposed to be for just business, an agreement because there was a common enemy trying to uproot us and everything we’d built, but my father pulled back and smiled at me.
“The most beautiful bride in the world.”
“Papa, you’re embarrassing me.”
He laughed heartily. Yes, agreeing to this had been the right thing to do. It made him so happy, and nothing in the world made my heart as complete as my father did when he was happy.
Just as he was now.
“You’re the one that embarrasses everyone. Beautiful, fierce, intelligent, God had spared no expense with you. Me, I am the lucky one to have you as my daughter.”
I couldn’t help but smile, if he continued like that, I might have pinched him, but he put out his hand for me to take so he could lead me inside the church and down the aisle.
“Three sons the Sorvino has. Wonderfully strong men, each of them, but with you, Romero will learn like I did, That you are worth more than any son.”
“Papa!” I said under my breath.
Nobody could flatter like my father.
The doors opened, and he led me to the front, where Alessandro was waiting in a deep red suit, looking as handsome as ever.
It was just a business arrangement, I reminded myself. My heart skipped several beats, but I arranged the features on my face, so they didn’t show. Whatever Alessandro was doing to me, I refused to allow it.
The ceremony was crisp, and after, I was introduced to all the Sorvinos.
Romero was a powerful-looking man. I could see easily how he and Helena had the dangerous looking litter they did. With Helena, I was welcomed into the family with a firm hug.
“Welcome to the family, my dear,” Helena said, patting my back before pulling away to smile at me.
“Katya, hi!” Arianna Sorvino, the only daughter in the Sorvino family, came toward me, hardly giving me time to adjust before enveloping me in a hug. “It’s so great to have a sister.”
I was flattered, but also slightly confused. This was a business arrangement. Nothing more than a way to join our family for business, but they were being so…welcoming and warm.