The Cost of the Forbidden (Irresistible Russian Tycoons)

by Carol Marinelli

  ‘I do,’ Anderson said, and he meant it. ‘Now that I’ve got to know you.’

  ‘Well, your timing’s crap,’ Naomi said. ‘It’s going to take a very long time to convince me. For now, I’ll see you at the church.’

  * * *

  Sevastyan stood in the church next to Daniil.

  ‘Nervous?’ Daniil said.

  ‘I’m curious to see the dress,’ Sev said.

  He doubted if she’d wear black, even if was her favourite colour. His bet was on brown, the colour of faded roses and the colour of her eyes.

  He turned and saw Anderson Anderson coming up the aisle and taking a seat by Judy.

  ‘God, I love that woman,’ Sev said, as he realised Naomi had sent her father away.

  He looked at his side of the church and saw a very pregnant Libby sitting with Rachel, her friend.

  Anya had taken time off from the ballet she was preforming in and gave him a smile, which Sev returned.

  Mariya was here, wearing the earrings he had bought for her, and her mother, Renata, was here too.

  He smiled at Mariya, but not her mother. Sev just offered a nod of acknowledgement to her.

  It still hurt but it hurt less and less.

  And there too was Allem with Jamal, who had flown in from Dubai with their newborn just to share in this day.

  That meant a lot.

  Emmanuel was here.

  But then again, Emmanuel had been everywhere—ensuring the wedding was perfect. God, was that guy efficient. He should have hired him years ago, Sev thought.

  But then he’d never have met Naomi.

  Sev had never thought that he’d be marrying in a church, let alone with people he cared for on the groom’s side.

  No, he wasn’t nervous, at least not until he heard Daniil’s always calm voice suddenly shocked.

  ‘Bozhe moi!’

  Oh, my God!

  Sev looked towards the back of the church and saw a face he would recognise for ever, no matter his age, and watched a man trying to slip quietly into the back pew.

  ‘Nikolai!’

  Tradition forgotten, Sev simply left the altar and, along with Daniil they walked swiftly towards the friend they had thought lost for ever.

  ‘You drowned...’

  ‘No.’ Nikolai shook his head.

  ‘I don’t understand...’

  ‘Not now,’ Nikolai said. ‘Later. Today is about your wedding.’ The music changed and people stood but Sev stood there, still stunned.

  ‘I thought...’ He had always thought it was his fault. That had he turned around that night, his friend might have changed his mind. It was too early to sink in that Nikolai was here in the flesh but finally he had the chance to apologise. ‘I’m sorry I ignored you that night. I should have asked more...’

  ‘Nyet,’ Nikolai said. ‘You have nothing to be sorry for. Go and get married.’

  Naomi stood at the entrance to the church and saw that two had finally become three. Daniil must have found Roman, she thought as Sev looked over.

  Yes, Sev knew that he should get back into his place but he wanted to share the news with Naomi and so, as Daniil led Nikolai to sit with his wife at the front, Sev walked over to his future wife.

  ‘Nikolai is here.’

  ‘Nikolai?’ Naomi frowned. ‘But I thought...’

  And she looked at a man some considered had little emotion and saw tears of gratitude in his eyes, and knew she could put anyone who thought that right.

  ‘I’m so happy for you,’ Naomi said. ‘How do you feel?’

  ‘Relieved,’ Sev admitted, and then he looked at Naomi properly.

  Nikolai’s presence was an extra gift,

  Sev trusted himself even more now.

  ‘You look...’ He just held her hands and looked down.

  Her dark hair was tied back as it had been on the day they’d met and the dress was white. It fitted like a glove and showed off her creamy bust, and she held a huge bunch of white roses.

  They meant something now.

  And these very flowers would one day lie faded between the pages of a book and she would cherish them for ever.

  He smiled because, yes, white was for weddings and white really showed off those unseen stars.

  The ring and Naomi.

  And then she smiled, and showed him that she could indeed flirt because that smile told him they would be playing virgins tonight.

  Sev then kissed the bride.

  A thorough kiss that was so loaded with passion and promise that she almost dropped the bouquet.

  ‘Dearly beloved....’ the vicar said, and then coughed.

  They stopped and only then did they remember where they were.

  ‘Let’s go and get married,’ Sev said.

  * * *

  Naomi did not walk down the aisle alone, she walked hand in hand with Sev, both smiling.

  Their vows were beautiful and heartfelt and again Sev got to kiss the bride.

  At a more appropriate time.

  Back at the hotel as husband and wife, her father toasted the bride and groom.

  Naomi was very pleased she’d found the nerve to say what she had to Anderson when she saw her father checking his phone as Sev gave his response and toasted the bridesmaids.

  Then Daniil gave his speech.

  He thanked everyone and said all the right things, and then he thanked those who had come from afar and those that were not here, and then Daniil got to a part that had Naomi’s heart rise in her throat.

  ‘Sev looked out for all of us. He would try to halt an argument or tell us when to pull back. He would also read to us,’ Daniil said. ‘Remember, Sev? Sometimes it was a book on cooking that he had found, or gardening. One time a carer had left a sexy book...’ And they all started to laugh as Daniil explained how the boys had kept getting him to read it again.

  ‘And then there were fairy tales,’ Daniil continued. ‘We used to laugh at them—a black laughter, but we all hoped, I think.’

  Naomi remembered what Sev had told her on the flight when he had admitted he had lied about not wanting a family. Her hand went into his as Daniil admitted he had felt the same.

  ‘Who would have thought...?’ Daniil started, but then halted, and as Naomi looked up she knew why. There could only be one reason that Libby was walking out during her husband’s speech at a wedding.

  Daniil’s new family was about to get bigger.

  Oh, there were so many happy endings today.

  ‘Wrap it up, Daniil,’ Sev suggested, given that there was somewhere else his friend needed to be.

  ‘Naomi and Sevastyan!’

  That was all that was needed to be said tonight.

  Naomi had never thought that she could be so happy—dancing with Sev and surrounded by people she loved.

  There were also the people she cared about but didn’t necessarily love, but only because they had not loved her.

  Sev did.

  He told her so every day when he woke her and every night when they went to bed and she told him the same.

  It had taken both their lifetimes so far to find out how it felt to be loved and to be the most important person in the other’s world.

  ‘Happy?’ Sev checked, as they danced.

  ‘Very.’ Naomi nodded, though she was starting to wilt. She wanted to tell Sev what had happened between her and her father and of course to find out more about Nikolai.

  ‘Can we go up?’ Sev spoke into her ear.

  ‘Up?’ Naomi checked.

  ‘To our suite?’

  ‘It’s not even ten o’clock.’

  ‘I don’t care what time it is,’ Sev said. ‘I’m done with other people.’

  ‘You can’t leave your own wedding at ten.’

  ‘I can.’ Sev shrugged. ‘Everyone is having a good time. Jamal and Allem have gone up to settle the baby. Daniil and Libby are at the hospital. Your mother is drunk...’

  He just reeled it off in his matter-of-fact way that made her smile.<
br />
  And he was right.

  It had been a blissful day and, no, they didn’t need to stay.

  ‘The only person I want to really speak with is Nikolai, but that can wait,’ Sev said. ‘I’ve a feeling that conversation might take some time. Anyway, he seems busy with...’

  ‘Rachel,’ Naomi filled in the name. ‘She’s Libby’s friend.’

  ‘Well, Rachel is taking exceptionally good care of him while her friend has her baby.’

  She was!

  ‘One more dance,’ Naomi said, as the music changed to sexy and slow and Sev pulled her in.

  ‘One more dance,’ Sev agreed, and then he told her something he had found out today.

  ‘You know Daniil said I read them an erotic book?’

  She nodded.

  ‘That’s where I knew that word from—“krasavitsa”.’

  It really wasn’t very fair to use the word he often did when he came when they were in the middle of the dance floor.

  And it made her stomach pull in on itself when he told her then that he’d only ever said it to her.

  ‘We’re going to say goodbye now,’ Sev said, and a little frantically she nodded. ‘Then we’re going to get into that elevator.’ And then, like some expert quizmaster, he hit the stopwatch. ‘The honeymoon starts now.’

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from THE QUEEN’S NEW YEAR SECRET by Maisey Yates.

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  The Queen’s New Year Secret

  by Maisey Yates

  CHAPTER ONE

  KAIROS LOOKED ACROSS the bar at the redheaded woman sitting there, her delicate fingertips stroking the stem of her glass, her eyes fixed on him. Her crimson lips were turned up into a smile, the invitation, silent but clear, ringing in the space between them.

  She was beautiful. All lush curves and heat. She exuded desire, sexuality. It shimmered over her skin. There was nothing subtle or refined about her. Nothing coy or demure.

  He could have her if he wanted. This was the most exclusive and private New Year’s Eve party in Petras, and all of the guests would have been vetted carefully. There was no press in attendance. No secret gold diggers looking for a payout. He could have her, with no consequences.

  She wouldn’t care about the wedding ring on his finger.

  He wasn’t entirely certain why he cared about it anymore. He had no real relationship with his wife. She hadn’t even touched him in weeks. Had barely spoken to him in months. Since Christmas she had been particularly cold. It was partly his fault, as she had overheard him saying unflattering things about the state of their union to his younger brother. But it hadn’t been anything that wasn’t true. Hadn’t been anything she didn’t already know.

  Life would be simpler if he could have the redhead for a night, and just forget about reality. But he didn’t want her. The simple, stark truth was as clear as it was inconvenient.

  His body wanted nothing to do with voluptuous redheads sitting in bars. It wanted nothing but the cool, blond beauty of his wife, Tabitha. She was the only thing that stoked his fantasies, the one who ignited his imagination.

  Too bad the feeling wasn’t mutual.

  The redhead stood, abandoning her drink, crossing the room and sauntering over to where he sat. The corner of her mouth quirked upward. “You’re alone tonight, King Kairos?”

  Every night. “The queen wasn’t in the mood to go out.”

  Those lips pursed into a pout. “Is that right?”

  “Yes.” A lie. He hadn’t told Tabitha where he was going tonight. In part, he supposed, to needle her. There was a time when they would have been sure to put in a public appearance during every holiday. When they would have put on a show for the press, and possibly for each other.

  Tonight, he hadn’t bothered to pretend.

  The redhead leaned in, the cloud of perfume breaking through his thoughts and drawing him back to the moment, her lips brushing against his ear, his shirt collar. “I happen to know that our host has a room reserved for guests who would like a bit more...privacy.”

  There was no ambiguity in that statement.

  “You are very bold,” he said. “You know I’m married.”

  “True. But there are rumors about that. As I’m sure you know.”

  Her words stuck deep into his gut. If the cracks were evident to the public now...

  “I have better things to do than read tabloid reports about my life.” He lived his tragic marriage. He didn’t want to read about it.

  She laughed, a husky sound. “I don’t. If you want a break from reality, I’m available for a few hours. We can bring in the New Year right.”

  A break from reality. He was tempted. Not physically. But in a strange, dark way that made his stomach twist, made him feel sick. It was down deep in the part of him that wanted to shake Tabitha’s foundation. To make her see him differently. Not as a fixture in her life she could ignore if she wished. But as a man. A man who did not always behave. Who did not always keep his promises. Who would, perhaps, not always be there.

  To see if she would react at all. If she cared.

  Or if their relationship had well and truly died.

  But he did nothing. Nothing but stand, moving away from the woman, and the temptation she represented. “Not tonight, I’m afraid.”

  She lifted her shoulder. “It could’ve been fun.”

  Fun. He wasn’t sure he had any idea what that was. There was certainly nothing fun about his line of thinking. “I don’t have fun. I have duty.”

  It wasn’t even midnight, and he was ready to leave. Normally, his brother, Andres, would be here, more than willing to swoop in and collect the dejected woman, or any other women who might be hanging around eagerly searching for a royally good time.

  But now, Andres was married. More than that, Andres was in love. Something Kairos had never thought he’d see. His younger brother completely and totally bound to one woman.

  Kairos’s stomach burned as though there was acid resting in it. He walked out of the club, down the stairs and onto the street where his car was waiting. He got inside and ordered the driver to take him back to the palace. The car wound through the narrow streets, heading out of the city and back toward his home.

  Another year come and gone. Another year with no heir. That was why he had commanded Andres to get married in the first place. He was facing the very real possibility that he and Tabitha would not be the ones producing the successor to the throne of Petras.

  The duty might well fall to Andres and his wife, Zara.

  Five years and he still had no child. Five years and all he had was a wife who might as well be standing on the other side of a chasm, even when they were in the same room.

  The car pulled through the massive gates that stood before the palace, then slowly toward the main entrance. Kairos got out without waiting for the driver to assist him, storming inside and up the stairs. He could go to Tabitha’s room. Could tell her it was time they tried again for a child. But he wasn’t certain he could take her icy reception one more time.

  When he was inside her body, pressed against her, skin to skin, it still felt as if she was a thousand miles away from him.

  No, he had no desire to engage in that farce, even if it would end in an orgasm. For him.

  He didn’t want to go to bed yet either.

&nb
sp; He made his way up the curved staircase and headed down the hall toward his office. He would have a drink. Alone.

  He pushed open the door and paused. The lights were off, and there was a fire going, casting an orange glow on the surroundings. Sitting in the wingback chair opposite his desk was his wife, her long, slender legs bared by her rather demure dress, her hands folded neatly in her lap. Her expression was neutral, unchanging even as he walked deeper into the room. She didn’t smile. She gave almost no indication that she noticed his presence at all. Nothing beyond a slight flicker in her blue eyes, the vague arch of her brow.

  The feeling that had been missing when the other woman had approached him tonight licked along his veins like a flame in the hearth. As though it had escaped, wrapping fiery tendrils around him.

  He gritted his teeth against the sensation. Against the desire that burned out of his control.

  “Were you out?” she asked, her tone as brittle as glass. Cold. Chilling the ardor that had momentarily overtaken him.

  He moved toward the bar that was on the far wall. “Was I here, Tabitha?”

  “I hardly scoured the castle for you. You may well have been holed up in one of the many stony nooks.”

  “If I was not here, or in my room, then it is safe to say that I was out.” He picked up the bottle of scotch—already used this evening by his lovely intruder, clearly—and tipped it to the side, measuring a generous amount of liquid into his glass.

  “Is that dry tone really necessary? If you were out, just say that you were out, Kairos.” She paused then, her keen eyes landing at his neck. “What exactly were you doing?” Her tone had morphed from glass to iron in a matter of syllables.

  “I was at a party. It is New Year’s Eve. That is what people customarily do on the holiday.”

  “Since when do you go to parties?”

  “All too frequently, and you typically accompany me.”

  “I meant, when do you go to parties for recreational reasons?” She looked down, her jaw clenched tight. “You didn’t invite me.”