Sergei, Volume 2 (12 page)

My doctor had kept a close eye on me, and sure enough, the clot that was causing me so much grief shrank and shrank until it had disappeared completely. The babies continued to grow on target. Thankfully my morning sickness had eased up some after hitting its peak around ten weeks. Poor Sergei spent most mornings holding my hair back and dabbing at my neck with a cool washcloth. Sometimes I wondered if he wasn't suffering more than me. He carried so much guilt for my predicament and wouldn't listen when I reminded him we shared that burden equally.

"Bianca, do you need more help?" Vivian tapped at the door to the dressing room I had commandeered at the back of my bridal shop. "Your mama is getting awfully antsy out here."

Connie, one of our bridal consultants, smiled over my shoulder as she finished tightening the corseted back of the gown. She had been with the shop for nine years and knew only too well how difficult Mama could be when she wanted to see a bride in one of her dresses. Renee, the seamstress who had done the final alterations on my gown, helped primp the skirt and snipped away any tiny threads that had been missed.

Staring at my reflection in the mirror, I tried to wrap my head around the image I presented. Organza and satin, pearls and rhinestones—I looked like a freaking princess. A pregnant princess, I corrected with a wry smile, but a princess nonetheless.

Between Mama and Galina and a dozen sketches that had gone back and forth between email, we had finally managed to nail down the perfect design. The strapless gown featured a sweetheart neckline and a corseted back that allowed for an easier fit for my baby bump. Ruching paired with dainty pleats and some gorgeous beadwork camouflaged the more pronounced curve to my tummy. The chapel train could be easily bustled for the reception, and the lacy bolero that would cover my shoulders for the ceremony was the perfect compromise.

When I stepped out of the dressing room, Mama gasped and Vivian happily clapped her hands together. Erin bounced up and down in her seat as she hugged the thick binder that she used to organize all the wedding details. Because the store was about to close, most of the staff was free to stand nearby and watch. Some of them clapped. Others grinned and gave thumbs-up signals. Even Ten who hovered in the background while keeping an eye on Vivian showed his approval with the tiniest lift to the corner of his mouth.

Dabbing at her eyes, my mother smiled at me. "Oh, sugar, look at you."

Standing in front of the mirrors, I couldn't believe the transformation either. Even after working in the field for years and years, I was taken aback by the sight of myself in a wedding dress. It wasn't happening the way I had always imagined. That whole thirteen weeks pregnant with twins thing wasn't quite according to plan, but I didn't dare entertain the what-ifs. I trusted that this was always the way it was supposed to be for me. Too many different lives had intersected and changed for the better for me to think otherwise.

I still hadn't settled on the veil I would be wearing so Junie from our accessories department brought over the two that I liked best. She slipped the first 0ne, a two-tiered fingertip veil, into place and stepped back so everyone could get a good look. She replaced the fingertip veil with a longer walking length veil in a sheer netting.

"The first one," Mama proclaimed from the best seat in the house.

"Definitely," Vivian agreed.

"Yep," Erin chimed with a nod.

Glancing around the room, I noticed only a handful of dissenting opinions. I had Junie attach the fingertip veil again and admired the way it curved around my shoulders and complemented the gown. It really was the perfect fit.

With my veil and headpiece chosen, Mama had Renee make some final adjustments to the gown. She wanted the hem lifted a tad in the front and shook her head when the bustle wasn't just right. Knowing Mama was this exacting with all the brides she helped dress for their big days, I stayed silent and let her do what she did best. Renee made quick notes on the pad she retrieved from her apron and placed pins in the necessary spots.

My second to last fitting came to an end, and I reluctantly slipped out of my dress. I couldn't believe that I would be wearing that and walking down the aisle in a week. In a whirlwind of busy days, it would all be over.

Back in my normal clothes, I found Vivian, Erin and Mama discussing the wedding preparations. It had been my mother's idea to schedule our wedding for the same weekend as the Perry family reunion. All of Mama's family would already be in town so it was the most logical time to sneak in a wedding on such a short notice. Between all of our friends and my contacts in the industry, pulling together a wedding in seven weeks hadn't been nearly as difficult as I had expected. It was pricier, but Mama hadn’t spared any expense.

"So Benny has everything arranged for the delivery of the cake and desserts," Erin said as I joined them. "Yuri is loaning us his backup DJ for the night. Oh, and Nikolai's catering contact said that he wasn't sure we had ordered enough alcohol for the night so he's sending extra, just in case. Whatever isn't opened, he'll take back the next day."

Oddly enough, I didn't even mind that Erin and Mama had taken control of my wedding day. For the first time in my life, I actually enjoyed letting someone else shoulder the responsibility. I had been doing a lot of reading about pregnancy and had decided that my constant on-the-go lifestyle where I was always rushing to meet a design deadline or spending fourteen hours at the shop had to stop. I refused to put the twins at risk.

By Valentine's Day, I would be on maternity leave. I had already started talking to some of the senior employees about the changes that would occur once the twins were here. Mama and I had shared several long discussions about the best way to move forward with the business. There were already key employees in support positions who were more than qualified and trusted to take over some of the duties I had insisted on piling onto my already overflowing plate. Running a small but thriving business was always going to be hard work, but I had to stop making it even harder on myself.

On the drive to the new house Mama shared with Aunt Penny and Aunt Sara, I chatted with her about the upcoming reunion. There was some big drama over the Saturday barbecue sign-up sheet that had everyone in a tizzy. Some of the older women in our family were so territorial when it came to the potluck dishes. I didn't really understand what was so insulting about Uncle Terry's new wife bringing the potato salad.

Mama clucked her teeth and muttered under her breath. It sounded an awful lot like she had said, "Dirty tart," but I convinced myself I had simply misheard. Upstart. Yeah, that was it. She had called my new Aunt Molly an upstart. Because I simply could not fathom my mother calling someone a tart. I just couldn't go there.

"I had a call from Adam Blake's social worker," Mama announced as I pulled into the driveway of her house. It was a damned good thing I was about to put the car into park because I nearly slammed on the brakes in surprise at hearing his name.

"What?" I twisted in my seat to face her. "What did that monster want?"

"He wanted to see if we would be willing to meet with him. It's part of a face-to-face program that allows inmates and victims to speak openly."

The thought of sitting across from the man who had beaten me and murdered my brother sickened me. "Why? What could he possibly have to say to us?"

"He wants to apologize."

I scoffed. "He can write a letter."

"It's not the same, Bianca." Mama toyed with the strap of her purse. "I said yes."

I could not believe what I was hearing. "What? Without even asking me?"

"I'm asking you now." The corners of her mouth pulled tight. "Do you want to come with me?"

"No, I don't, but you know I will." Irritated that she had boxed me into this position, I shook my head. "When do you plan to have this get-together?"

She shot me a look that warned me to watch the sass. "The social worker discussed early October."

I tried to picture my schedule and didn't see any conflicts. The possibility of Adam bringing up his brother Derek in the conversation bothered me. What my mother didn't know was that Adam's older brother had attacked and attempted to kill me in the storeroom of the shop earlier in the summer. Sergei, Nikolai and Kostya had arrived in time to save me, but the three men who had come there intending to do me harm that night had never been seen again. I worried that Adam might have more sinister intents than his supposed desire for forgiveness.

"Would you like to come inside for dinner?"

"No, ma'am." Feeling suddenly tired, I sagged against the seat.

"Go home and get to bed, honey. Growing one baby is hard enough but two?" She shook her head. "You need to keep those feet up in the evenings and make sure you're getting in bed early."

"I am, Mama."

"Good. Oh! That reminds me." She reached into her purse and produced an envelope. She tugged the card out of it and handed it to me. "I got this from your mother-in-law yesterday! Vivian helped translate the part at the bottom for me."

Surprised by the contact Galina had made with my mother, I read the short note Vivian had translated. It was really sweet and heartfelt. I hadn't told my mother about the early friction with Sergei's mother. There wasn't anything to be gained from it. Honesty truly was not the best policy in all situations.

"This was very nice of her." Galina was trying, and I respected her for that. I understood this wasn’t easy for her, and I felt myself warming more and more toward her as she proved how much she loved Sergei and wanted him to be happy, even if he found that happiness with me.

"I'm going to send a card to her. Vivian offered to help."

That didn't surprise me in the least. After tucking the card back into her purse, Mama leaned over to kiss my cheek. When she reached for the door handle, I asked, "Do you want me to help you?"

She shook her head. "I've got this."

And she did. I couldn't believe how well she was doing these days. She easily slid out of the passenger seat and hauled herself to a standing position. Her balance was so much better, and she walked confidently on her prosthetic. I waved at her when she reached her front door and waited until she was safely inside to back out of the driveway.

When I got home, the house was dark. I switched the security system to the at-home setting, had a cup of yogurt with some raspberries and blueberries mixed in for a quick dinner and trudged upstairs to shower. Tonight was Sergei's late night at the gym when he sparred with one of the fighters Ivan was taking to that big mixed-martial arts tournament in Vegas.

As I swiped a lathered sponge up and down my arms, I suddenly remembered that Sergei would be out of town the first week in October. He was going as Ivan's backup coach for the tournament. I already dreaded telling him about the meet-up Mama wanted to have with Adam Blake. I had a bad feeling he was going to get all alpha-crazy when I told him that he couldn't come as my bodyguard.

Not wanting to go down that road, I let my thoughts take a different turn. Standing under the pounding stream of hot water, I slid my hands over my changing body. Heavier and fuller, my breasts weighed down my hands in a way I hadn't expected. My nipples were so sensitive lately. I had even switched out my usual bras, opting instead for seamless cups and no underwire. Curious, I slid my hands down my ribs to belly.

While I had always had a curve to my tummy, this new roundness was firmer. I put both hands on my stomach and outlined the bump there. With twins growing inside me, I was showing much earlier than most women would, even with my plus-sized body. Vivian had managed to keep her pregnancy a secret until late July when she and Nikolai had announced their news to all of their friends at a cozy dinner party, but now halfway through it, she could no longer hide the truth with loose tops or big handbags. On her petite frame, every pound showed so easily.

Running my soapy hands over my belly, I wondered when I would experience quickening. All the books said it was coming soon. With two babies dancing around in there, would it feel stronger? I still marveled at the idea of two tiny lives existing inside me. Some days it felt so surreal I could hardly believe it.

After toweling off and going through my normal moisturizing routine, I slid between the sheets without putting on a stitch of clothing. Naked in our bed, I was insanely aware of Sergei's scent lingering on his pillow and the sheets. Because I had been advised to be careful, we hadn't been intimate since the night had proposed to me, and it was really starting to wear on my nerves.

I had been cleared for sex two weeks ago, but Sergei still refused to touch me. He seemed convinced that what had happened was his fault. I had tried and tried to explain to him that the hematoma happened during conception, but he wouldn't accept that. For some reason, he seemed determined to punish himself—and me.

Alone in the house and starting to experience those stirrings in the feminine center of me, I let my hand drift down my body. I hadn't needed to bring myself to orgasm since that night Sergei had kicked down my front door. He had always been too happy to help me find release, but if he wasn't going to lend a hand? Well…I would just have to make do with fantasy.

Eyes closed, I tried to replace the feel of my hands with his, but it wasn't possible. My hands were so much smaller and softer. When Sergei touched me, those long, thick fingers of his seared my skin. He had rough fingertips that awoke every nerve-ending and left tingling swaths on my body. His big hands squeezed and caressed me like no others ever had or would. He owned me—with his kisses and his touches and the gentle way he whispered my name while fucking me like some feral beast, always harder and faster and rougher than I had ever imagined enjoying.

Lightly pinching my nipples, I remembered the time he had straddled my waist after making me come. He had slipped his cock between my breasts. His shaft had still been slick and shiny with the wetness of my arousal. He had pressed my breasts together, creating a tight furrow that he thrust his cock between again and again.