#3 Chapter 5

Book:Dangerous Bonds: Surviving a Bratva Marriage Published:2024-9-7

She quickly put her hands on my shoulders. Her fingers seemed to sink into my flesh, but not to hurt me.
“I don’t want to make you look like a fool,” she said.
I tightened my grip around her waist. “You never will.”
Nothing and no one would ever make me look like a fool. I held her tightly and as the music changed, slowing down, I danced with my wife.
Charlotte’s grip kept tightening and then loosening. Her feet stumbled. I slowed down. “Put your feet on my shoes,” Isaid.
“I’m way too heavy to do that.”
“Do it.” I wasn’t going to argue on the dance floor. She would do as she was told.
She rolled her eyes, but eventually she got onto my shoes, and then I was able to walk her around the dance floor. I didn’t care what people said, or if they pointed. Her dress was long enough to hide what we were doing.
This was our wedding day.
Charlotte nibbled her lip, and each time she tried to look down, I’d scolded her and told her to keep her gaze on me.
She winced. “I’m sorry. I’m not used to doing anything like this.”
“Then don’t panic. I’ve got you and I’m not going to let you go. Just follow my rhythm. Don’t fight me.”
Seconds passed and Charlotte gave herself to me. She wasn’t tense and she allowedme to show her which ways to move, how to dance. She was an easy partner to work across the dance floor. I hated to admit it, but I also liked having her in my arms.
Charlotte kept her gaze on me, and I refused to look away. There was a threat all aroundus, but in that moment I knew she needed me to look into her eyes, to not waver, for her to see me. No one else.
The song came to an end, and when Ivancame toward us, I saw the panic in her eyes. “I think it is time that we retire,” I said, looking into Ivan’s eyes.
“Of course. I was going to make the suggestion myself.”
There was a chorus of applause and I trusted the MC to keep to their usual vulgarcrap, which they did. Charlotte’s face was bright red by the time we got to our honeymoon suite. We were not going on a honeymoon. There was too much work to be done. With Oleg dead and his territory at threat, my presence was needed to keep some of the vultures at bay. Not to mention I had my own problems, with a couple of rising drug lords who thought they could enter my territory.
I had one of the workers in my dungeon, and he was being a bit of a pest when it came to giving up information. A weekend without food or sunlight might loosen his mouth.
The honeymoon suite was way too pastel for me, and there were a lot of frills as well. The bed was huge, which was nice. My early years of sleeping on a hard floor had made me enjoy the creature comforts ofluxury when I was older.
We were alone. Charlotte shook. She stood by the bed.
Removing my jacket, I kicked off my shoes and shook my head. “I’m not going to fuck you.”
“You’re not.”
“No.”
“But, isn’t that what they want?” she asked, pointing toward thedoor.
“And you give people what they want?”
“But, Ivan?”
“Ivan knows I won’t fuck you.”Sitting on the edge of the bed, I can feel the softness of the bed. “It’s been a long day, and we’re heading back to my home tomorrow. I’ve got work to do, so go and take a shower. Don’t use up all the hot water. If you try to run, I will tie you to the bed, or I’ll make you sleep on the floor. Do not test my patience tonight, Charlotte.”
“Why do you keep calling me Charlotte? You can call me Lottie.”
“It’s not your name. Charlotte is your name.”
“Lottie is like a nickname, though.”
“So wasTrash. Would you like me to call you that?”
She tensed. Her lips pressed together and tears filled her eyes but they didn’t fall. She bowed her head and entered the ensuite.
Collapsing to the bed, I groaned. This was not going the way I had hoped.
I hadn’t known the pleasures of a woman in a long time. Work had gotten in the way of getting my dick sucked. With Ivan breathing down my neck to marry this woman, I hadn’t visited any ofthe Volkov brothels. None of the women fucking appealed to me. Not a single one.
The door to the bathroom opened. I didn’t sit up, but remainedon the bed. Opening my eyes, I see the long mirror staring back at me. Great, just great. Any other time I’d have loved this. To be able to see my woman taking my dick, to watch her face as I control her with mindless pleasure. Not tonight.

Taking a deep breath because my patiencewas finally being tested, I open my eyes and see Charlotte presenting me with her back. The corset was tightened. There was a knot at the top, in some kind of fancy bow. I reached out and the moment my skin touched hers, she seemed to tense. I wasn’t truly touching her, just the front of my fingers as I attempted to get the stupid corset off. Why do people tie these things so tight?
“I’ve got to use my knife,” I said.
“What?”
She jerked back.