Page 70 of Relentless Sinner
I wish I didn’t have to be here. I love going to functions that feel like grand balls as much as any girl who fantasizes about things like that but this engagement party was never going to feel that way for me.
My heart hasn’t stopped racing since we stepped out of the car.
Jaxon is already here. He had to work late so gave instructions for Eve to escort me. I preferred traveling with her. I wasn’t ready to see Jaxon yet.
I’m still not.
Swallowing my discomfort, I force my nerves aside and follow Eve through the sea of silk gowns and tailored suits whose wearers are all assessing me.
There are more of Jaxon’s people here than mine. I haven’t seen a single person from my side of the family yet.
From some of the haughty stares I can just imagine what they must be thinking about me. That he shouldn’t be marrying me, or even that he could have done better. Like marrying someone Russian. I’m aware Jaxon comes from a very old, traditional family.
There are people like that in my family. They’re just not vocal about it. They also wouldn’t look down on me just because I come from a different country.
We reach the center of the hall and then I see him.
Jaxon stands by the bar talking heartily to a man with dark brown hair and the same height, build, and possibly same age as him.
The man looks just as empowered as Jaxon but the difference between everyone and Jaxon Bortsov is that he exudes effortless power without even trying. The same way he does sex appeal.
Tonight he has his hair slicked back so it draws attention to his high cheekbones and chiseled features.
His black Kiton suit molds to his muscles the way my hands did last night, and the precision of his appearance speaks volumes about him—hisauthority.
He looks like a Pakhan. But he also looks like temptation.
Feeling my gaze, he turns his head and our eyes lock.
His intense eyes bores into me, filled with the same promises from last night.
For a moment I can't catch my breath. My thoughts have been at war with each other all day. Now that I see him all I can think about is how it felt when he touched me, when he was inside me—claiming me.
Tension hangs heavy between us and my heart betrays me with a single wild beat.
It's going to be near impossible to ignore the way my body reacts when I’m around him. Because no matter how much I try to convince myself that I shouldn’t want this man the truth is, doing so doesn't stop the fire he ignites within me.
Chapter Fifteen
Gabriella
Jaxon moves forward when Eve and I get closer, ending his conversation with his friend.
When we reach him he says something to Eve in Russian, to which she bows her head and takes her leave.
Anxiously, I glance at her, my stomach tightening as I watch her go. I was hoping she’d stay with us a little longer. Just until my nerves passed. I guess that may be never, though.
I look back at Jaxon and inhale a slow breath to clear my head. Sadly, it doesn’t work. My mind still feels scrambled and I’m still thinking of the way we were last night.
His lips tip into an easy grin as if he knows what I’m thinking, and his eyes become vibrant with desire. “You look good enough to eat, Krasota.”
My cheeks burn and I’m suddenly way too hot but I do my best to compose myself. “I wasn’t really going for edible.”
“I know.” He smirks, leans forward and brushes a kiss over my lips as if he’s tasting me. A camera flash goes off and I look in the direction, finding a photographer standing across from us.
“We’ll be having pictures taken at different points throughout the night,” Jaxon explains.
Knowing there will be pictures of us to remember the night makes me feel even more uncomfortable. It was silly of me not to factor that part in.