Page 95 of Bought to Bear Bratva Heir

"You’re very welcome, Mrs. Popovitch," he said tightly, even though I wasn’t technically Mrs. anyone right now.

"And can I just apologize for," the sound of him swallowing was loud, "for how I treated you before."

I stared up at him, recognizing him as the man who had carried me from the trunk of Ilya's car and back into his apartment. The same one who had been cruel.

I had every reason to hate this man, but I didn’t. I was too happy to hate anyone.

"It’s fine. There’s nothing to forgive," I promised. "You were protecting Ilya and Alec. I get that."

He nodded once, tucking my hand into the crook of his arm. "Then let me deliver you to your husband."

I nodded silently. Nerves made my legs shake as we walked up the wide stone steps and slipped into the cool confines of the church.

What if Ilya wasn’t here waiting for me? What if he had changed his mind?

Ilya turned the second the door opened. Looking as handsome as any model in his tuxedo. Next to him, Alec beamed at me. A little mini version of his father.

Any nerves I had been feeling evaporated the second I saw his smiling face.

Sliding my hand out of the man’s, I rushed forward. It wasn’t traditional to go barging down the aisle, but nothing Ilya and I did was ever traditional.

My father was dead. I had no one to walk me down and give me away.

The moment I started rushing forward, Ilya was moving to meet me. We came together in the middle. His arms went fully around me, and his lips smashed down like he couldn’t wait until we said our vows to kiss me.

And that was fine. I wanted to kiss him too. Forever.

At the altar, the priest cleared his throat, and it was only then that I realized that Ilya had ducked me backwards, one leg had lifted over his hips, and his tongue plundered my mouth. Like he owned me.

He did own me.

We came apart guiltily; a blush crept up my cheeks as we straightened. "I think we may be jumping the gun," I whispered, ducking my head to hide my crimson cheeks. "I think the kiss is meant to come at the end."

Ilya chuckled. "Yeah." Lifting my knuckles, he kissed the back of my hand. "Want to get married?"

"Yeah, I guess so," I teased, looking him dead in the face.

"You guess so?" Ilya's eyebrows shot up. "You're the mother of my son, of my unborn baby. You will marry me." His head descended again, catching my lips between his teeth. "Or I’ll just keep filling you up with babies until you do." His eyes sparkled. "Or kidnap you and keep you chained to my bed and then fill you up with babies. I know you don’t mind being tied up."

I blushed scarlet at the reminder of what we had done last night.

"But," Ilya dropped his voice to a whisper meant only for me, "I want you to be my wife the next time I make you cum."

"Ilya," I whispered. Only he would say such things in a house of God. He really had no shame. "Best marry me quick then."

For a second, his eyes flashed. "As quickly as I can, because I can’t wait a second longer. I want you, Daisy Popovitch, and if I don’t get you soon, then I’ll take you on the altar, in front of everyone."

Two hours later, we were wed. Alec was with his nanny, a woman Ilya trusted and I liked, and I was standing in a lavish hotel room in front of my new husband in my satin wedding dress.

"You look nervous." Ever at ease, Ilya prowled around me. His hands tracing the air above my curves.

I watched him silently. Truthfully, I was nervous. Which was strange because this wouldn’t be the first time, or even the millionth time, we had been together.

I hadn’t been this nervous since I had climbed up the stairs and been given to him for the first time. I was no longer that naive virgin girl, and Ilya was no longer the cold monster he had been back then, but I was still nervous anyway.

"A little," I admitted in a whisper.

Finally, his hand closed the distance between us; coming to a stop on my hip, he stepped into my space, tilting my chin up.