The Marriage (Darkest Lies Trilogy Book 3)

by Bethany-Kris

  Empowerment was sexy.

  For her.

  “A jewelry store?” she asked Roman.

  He’d only promised shopping that morning, but she hadn’t thought this would be on the list.

  Roman leaned in to leave a tender kiss on her temple, murmuring against her skin, “It’s one of the best in the world. I thought you’d be more excited.”

  Karine eyed the two women that passed them by as they left the store. Dripping in visible wealth with not a hair out of place, it didn’t bother them a bit to look down their nose at her on the way out.

  Should she be there?

  “Sorry, I’ve just never paid much attention to things like this before. Not that my father would have encouraged it, even though I’m sure he could afford it.”

  She quickly realized she was rambling when she chanced a peek at him and found Roman staring back at her with raised brows. Licking her lips nervously, she waited for him to say something—anything—even if she knew he wasn’t judging her. Of all the people in the world—Roman was the only one she trusted inexplicably. The marriage proved it to be true. But being that he was her husband now, Karine didn’t want to keep reminding him of exactly how naive she was.

  Sometimes.

  What if he suddenly decided he had made a huge mistake?

  You’re being ridiculous, she told herself because it was also true. Too bad that didn’t fix the seeds of self doubt that had planted themselves into her mind a long time ago. It was going to be a while more before she ripped out the roots.

  “Karine,” he said gently.

  She rolled her eyes away from his intense gaze. “Why are we here?”

  That only made him tug hard on her hand, snapping her attention right back on him in an instant. There was no hiding the insecurities that he found staring back.

  “What’s really the problem?”

  Karine shrugged. “I felt out of place for a second.”

  “Your place,” he said fast, admiring the slinky yellow dress he’d picked out for her at another store, “is wherever you want to be.”

  Then, he grinned in that sexy, tempting way of his. It made her own shy smile grow because it was one thing for her to deal with this man in the privacy of a bedroom, but it was another to handle him in public. She wasn’t sure she could do that.

  “And where I want you to be right now is here,” Roman added. “Because it’s time we got you a ring—proper, yeah? I didn’t want to buy you something you wouldn’t like, or maybe I’m a coward and don’t want to hear you tell me you hate it. So, I want you to pick it out yourself.”

  “Oh.”

  “Yeah. I’ve set up a private consultation—they’ll make whatever you want if you can’t find something. Do you want to get started?”

  Karine didn’t answer right away. There was such a thing as being overwhelmed with joy, and even though she’d experienced it more than once with this man, it never failed to shock her all the same.

  The ring really didn’t matter.

  Not in the grand scheme.

  Karine wouldn’t have minded waiting—and no matter what he said, she would have loved any ring he picked for her whenever he did so because it came from him. Yet, he’d still made this a priority, and that meant something to her.

  His voice snapped Karine out of her thoughts. “Babe, you okay?”

  “I’m just ...” Karine glanced his way, blinking away the wetness in her eyes. She didn’t want to cry, even if they were joyful tears. “I think I just realized that I’m happy.”

  Quieter, she added, “My life is not the same.”

  A sudden flash of softness reflected in Roman’s eyes when he nodded, and pulled her into his arms.

  “That’s all I want for you, Karine. To have a happy life,” he said, kissing the top of her head.

  “With you?”

  “With me.”

  *

  A row of the most beautiful diamond rings twinkled in front of her. Each sat pretty on its own black velvet cushion, and every single one glittered like a thousand stars, blinding her with their luminescence. Karine couldn’t bring herself to look away even as the jeweler and Roman discussed creating something original. They were just too beautiful, and it was a strange feeling to know she could pick out whichever one she wanted.

  All of them, even.

  Roman had told her so.

  He still seemed interested in having her design something despite the jeweler laying out options for her to look through, but she could also sense Roman leaning towards the gorgeous princess cut with a collection of rubies around it. Right in the middle, the ring stared up at them. It was classic in its appeal, and also very big.

  If she didn’t go with designing her own ring, she was positive he liked that one the most.

  Personally, Karine was drawn to a daintier one—the small gold band with a single carat diamond in the shape of a heart. It was simple, but poignant.

  She wanted something that she would never have to take off, unless absolutely necessary. A ring with larger diamonds might prove difficult in that regard, but the simpler band she could wear constantly and always look down to see it whenever she wanted ... well, the idea of that made her smile.

  It was perfect.

  “Do you have a favorite yet?” the jeweler asked from behind the counter where he stood in his very smart suit.

  The man sat with his elbows on the glass, his gloved hands careful to stay out of their way, looking expectantly at both their faces. He seemed surprised by the immense patience Roman displayed while Karine stayed silent and appraised the pieces, refusing to engage a stranger any more than she had to.

  Karine couldn’t even remember how long they’d been standing there, going over each piece only for her to nod politely and say nothing, but it had been long enough.

  She turned to Roman, chewing on her bottom lip.

  “I know this is the one you want for me,” she said, pointing toward the larger ring he’d been eyeing, “if I don’t decide to have something made.”

  He picked up the princess cut and held it up to the light. It shone even more brilliantly, the cuts of the diamond so pristine and amazing. Even she had to admit she did like it. Just not enough.

  “It looks like it was made for the madam,” the man added to the conversation.

  Neither paid him any attention.

  Roman studied it closely while Karine slipped the other one she preferred on her finger. As strange as it was, she felt an instant connection with it, and like she hoped ... looking down at where it sat on her finger only made her smile.

  It didn’t have any embellishments. What you saw was what you got. Perfect, in its own way. Much like Roman.

  “But this is the one that is calling to me,” she continued. Roman turned to look at the ring on her finger.

  Of course, he wanted to get her the best ring the store had to offer. She was supposed to be his queen, and he wanted everyone who looked at her—or the ring on her finger—to see it was true. Only the biggest and best would do. He wasn’t even the first bratva man she’d met who thought like that—they were who they were.

  Karine decided she would get the one he wanted if he looked at it again ... but he didn’t. Roman curled his fingers over her hand, encasing the ring that sat there, and holding tight enough to make her heart skip a beat.

  “I told you, Karine, you should get the one you want.”

  Her smile was wider than ever.

  “I’ll never take it off,” she promised fiercely against his lips when he pulled her in for a kiss that made even the jeweler turn away.

  Someone would have to take it from her dead body first.

  *

  Roman paid for the ring—and while Karine was given a tour of the rest of the jewelry the store had to offer as he did so—he stayed all the way on other side of the room. Despite being surrounded by three ladies who were running a constant stream of commentary, Karine kept glancing over her shoulder to keep her husband in her si
ghts.

  It felt better.

  She wouldn’t apologize for it.

  Obviously, the ladies in their black dresses and sensible heels had decided she was a valued customer—she bet anyone spending money in the place was—and clearly hoped to impress her while they had the chance to make a few more sales.

  Unfortunately for them, Karine was more interested in the phone call Roman was making. She hadn’t noticed him speaking on the phones he bought them since they arrived in Vegas. As far as she knew, he had gotten rid of all modes of communication so the outside world couldn’t trace them except for their disposable phones. So, why was he currently on one of the burners, keeping his back turned from the man ringing up the order a few feet away?

  From the expression on his face, she could sense the topic of conversation was serious. And he made an effort to keep his voice down as he talked fast.

  Roman ended the phone call almost as quickly as he started it, and if Karine hadn’t been watching his every move to quell her nerves, she would have missed it. She looked away with a jerk, hoping he hadn’t caught her trying to eavesdrop. Even if she was too far away to actually hear anything useful.

  They were married now.

  A team.

  She trusted him, yes, but he encouraged her to have a mind of her own, and that meant Karine had questions. Whatever Roman was discussing on the phone had to be important, although she opted not to ask what it was for when he walked towards her with a warm smile, making the sales ladies scatter.

  Not too far.

  They still wanted to make money.

  “Do you see something else you like, babe?” Roman asked, wrapping one strong arm around her waist. “Just point.”

  She did.

  At his chest.

  “I do now,” she whispered in his ear.

  His laugh was thunderous and dark, making Karine shiver on the spot, and alarming the people who were apparently waiting on her answer. He dragged her closer, making Karine stare up, and the rest of the room disappear before he dropped a sweet kiss to the tip of her nose.

  “Well, then we’ll just have to get the thing I picked out for you.”

  “What?” she asked.

  “I think you’ll like it.”

  Karine couldn’t hide her bubbly, nervous laughter as Roman gave a nod to the man who produced a velvet box from thin air. The same jeweler who had helped them earlier.

  In his hand, the man popped open the clasps of a navy velvet box, opening the top. In front of her waited a six-strand diamond necklace—each rope delicate and glittering under the lights. Compared to some of the larger, less functional pieces in the glass cases, the necklace was like her ring, simple but beautiful.

  A statement.

  “Oh, it’s beautiful,” she said, reaching for it.

  Roman grabbed the necklace from the man, and slipped it around her neck. He clasped it without much trouble at all, and then took her hand in his, leading her toward a free-standing, floor-length mirror off to the side.

  It wasn’t lost on her that since their arrival, the store had not allowed entrance to other customers. It was just him and her—and the few staff, keeping their quiet distance—as the two came to a stop in front of the mirror.

  She toyed with the bottom rope of the necklace, admiring the way it sat powerfully on her neck, hugging her collarbones, and dipping low down her exposed cleavage.

  Roman picked the right outfit for her earlier. It showed off the necklace without much effort at all.

  “A custom piece,” she heard the jeweler say.

  He also mentioned a price.

  She tried not to hear that, and failed. The large number made Karine pause, though she didn’t take her hand away from her throat.

  “I ... don’t know. It’s very ...”

  Karine fumbled with her words, staring at herself and the unfamiliar reflection that stared back. She wasn’t used to seeing that smile, those clear eyes, or the happiness. The necklace was really just a bonus.

  A beautiful one, sure.

  Roman stood tall behind her, then placed his hands on her shoulders.

  “I do. It’s perfect, and made for you,” he said. “Look at you.”

  She did.

  Again.

  She—and the necklace—looked better with him behind her. The whole world looked better through that view.

  *

  Karine finally understood what it felt like to be walking on clouds by the time they had returned to the hotel room, and Roman decided to run her a bath. She couldn’t close her eyes without seeing the piles and piles of bags and boxes from department stores all over Vegas. She could make her own store in the hotel closet, if she wanted. How were they going to travel back with all of it?

  She didn’t ask.

  When he said shop, he meant shop.

  Karine hadn’t been ready.

  “Did you have a good day?” Roman asked.

  She sat on the edge of the marble bathtub, while Roman slipped the straps of her dress down her arms.

  “I had an amazing day,” she replied, looking up at him. “But I’m tired, too.”

  His rumbly chuckles had Karine laughing, too. When it was just him and her, alone like this, when she was happy, his smiles held pride. She had figured out a while ago that there was a small piece of Roman he kept well hidden from everyone—insecurity was his own monster to beat, but she seriously doubted he showed that vulnerability to anyone.

  Except her.

  The dress slipped down to her waist, revealing her small breasts. He came around to stand in front of her, staring without shame. She still had the necklace on, and had no intention of taking it off. Oh, someday.

  Not today.

  Scooping her hand into his, he helped her up the steps that led into the bathtub. As she sank into hot, bubbly water, Karine asked, “Are you getting in with me?”

  The tub was big enough for it.

  And she wanted him.

  Roman didn’t bother to reply. The lavender scent of the bubbles filled her every breath and immediately relaxed her muscles while she enjoyed the sight of him stripping from his clothes piece by piece. The man really was a sight—sin in the flesh. Impressive in size, dark hair dusting the most tempting places on his body, and his gaze locked on her.

  Yeah.

  How could she not stare?

  “I just don’t know if I deserve all of this,” she said, running her fingers over the necklace but meaning much more overall.

  Roman’s clothes had come off and now all her attention was on his cock. He wasn’t hard—yet—but the size of him still made her mouth water.

  She wore his ring now. The weight of it was not substantial, but she felt it constantly even so. He possessed her. Happily his. The very fact that they belonged to each other turned her on.

  “You do deserve it all, Karine, and much more. I’m working on it,” he said.

  “I know you are.”

  Even if he didn’t tell her everything. Even if she thought he was too used to her not asking questions. Karine did think he had the best of intentions.

  Before he joined her in the bath, he kneeled down and grabbed her chin, tilting her face up so he could kiss her again. Holding her there, he pressed two harder kisses to her lips before saying, “And don’t ever doubt whether you deserve my love and attention, or the gifts I give you. I want to spoil you, and I will. As often and with whatever I like. For the rest of our lives.”

  She couldn’t fathom why he loved her like he did—but she was done trying to figure it out. It wasn’t a terrible thing to live with the fact that this man loved her unconditionally.

  Roman sunk ungraciously into the tub, splashing water everywhere and making her giggle.

  He grabbed her by her hips, pulling her into his lap where he rocked her sensitive clit against his growing erection under the water. When his words were husky in his throat, and his cock hard to the touch, she lowered herself over him, taking inch by glorious inch of him sl
owly until she was tight and deep and settled.

  A grunt fell from Roman’s lips when she tried to stay steady—if only for a second, she wanted to feel him stretching her open—and she had to give him what he needed instead. Her breasts bounced lightly as she rode him, the ropes of diamonds now wet against her chest catching the light around them.

  Glazed, dark eyes appraised her.

  Loved her.

  She used her palm to swipe away some foam on his beard, and he caught her hand with his. Kissing the side of her palm, he yanked her closer and kept her hand immobile as he worked her body faster and harder against his. His wicked words made her crazy. Every praise that left his lips took her higher.

  She had control on top of him.

  Except he took it away, too.

  Made her wild.

  The water splashed over the edge of the tub the closer she came. She sank into him, taking the kiss he rained down on her without warning until her lungs burned and all she could do was whine against the seam of his mouth for mercy. The orgasm finally swept through, the current so violent she thought she was drowning.

  Could you drown on air?

  Either way, he fucked her through it.

  She was tender and raw while he finished, but every final stroke of his cock reminded her of exactly who she belonged to. The man she chose.

  A man she loved.

  Roman groaned when he shot into her, holding a trembling Karine tight to his cock as he filled her with hot spurts. His pulsing cock made her shiver.

  She pressed her eyes together, her cheek pressed to his chest, and then felt him release her arm. When she looked up again, Roman was staring at her, smiling. Sly, and content. His blissed gaze was half-lidded, but still locked on her.

  “I don’t think you know how beautiful you are,” he said.

  She clenched around him.

  “I never felt beautiful like this before,” she replied, touching the necklace again.

  He shook his head. “You don’t need diamonds to make you beautiful, Karine.”

  “But you’ve still bought them for me.”

  “Because I want you to have everything I can give you.”

  Karine wanted to ask him if he wanted a family— or a house of their own to fill? Would that make their marriage complete? She thought about the fact that she could feel him inside her now, his cum thick and mingled with hers.