Chapter 6

Nikolai

You would have thought because there was a crowd I would have placed a light kiss on her lips and be done with it, so I could have at the very least blamed it on my curiosity. You would have thought wrong.

In that kiss I claim Vera as mine in the eyes of everyone present. I pressed her flush against every inch of me glad she had not chosen one of those large elaborate dresses to wear. I allow my lips to learn the curve of hers and what she likes. I realise she could be a very fast learner, but if she had to be learning, she probably had never been kissed before.

Kissing Vera could become very addictive, so I should probably never do it in public again. As I separate us from each other, the look in her eyes lets me know she had basked in the kiss just as much as I had. It made me realise two things. I would be kissing Vera again, and I would be doing it very soon.

The public be damned.

“I would like to introduce you to my mother.” I tell her as I place my hands on her waist and lead the way.

“I do not think I will ever recover from the embarrassment I felt when I called her your girlfriend.”

“What even made you assume that?” Suddenly curious.

“She looks young and pretty, she also smiles and has a friendly personality. I am sorry my first thought was that nothing as old or as unsmiling as you could have come out of her.” I feel intense anger rise up my spine as her statement reminds me of my father. Suddenly, I am no longer in the mood for festivities.

I approach my mother and I do not even say anything before Irena walks the rest of the way towards us to introduce herself. She hugs Vera and they both laugh and smile but I don’t hear anything. I am filled with the need to punch something, preferably something alive. But the punching bag in my gym room would work, for now.

“Vera, it’s time to go. I am sure the rest of the festivities can carry on without us.”

She tenses a bit but I don’t comment. “I want to greet my family before I leave, I’ll be back soon.”

She goes towards her cousin and they exchange a few words before Katya glances at me with sadness in her eyes. Vera was close with her cousin but they should have all known I will be taking my wife with me.

Her Aunt Sofia joins the group and they hug before she goes to her Father. She sits with him the longest. But I am confused that they don’t say anything to each other until she stands to leave. He walks her back towards me and offering a handshake he says “Take care of my daughter.”

I hold his back in a firm grip and reply “Always.” The Bardini’s always take their own.

I escort Vera to the door as the car is brought to the front for us.

“I had my things packed, one of my cars would bring it by later. I hope you don’t mind.” She says.

“Of course, it's fine.” The car arrives and I reach out for the door allowing her to proceed inside first. She is slightly shocked but does not comment as she steps into the car.

The entire ride home I receive phone calls from different people in different countries, some offering congratulations, some talking business and some wondering whether I will be open to marrying another wife or even a concubine since my new wife already beat their daughters to it.

I am grateful the conversations happen in at least five different languages and I hope Vera does not catch on with most of the conversations.

The third set of people only manage to fuel my anger. Why would they ask me such foolish questions on the night of my wedding? By the time we reach the house I am fuming.

I get down from the car and lead the way in.

When we reach my penthouse, I explain “Living room, dining room, kitchen, guest bathroom.” I point around the huge open space lined with floor-to-ceiling windows on the opposite side. “The gym. My office.” I turn and point to the other side of the open space. “My bedroom. The guest room.”

I lead her across the living room and down the hallway to my bedroom and open the door. Vera stops at the threshold and casts a quick glance around the room.

“I would rather have my own room, please.” she says and takes a step back into the hallway.

“Why, exactly?” I raise an eyebrow.

“I don’t want to...” Her voice drifts away and her eyes are cloud in fear. I realise what thoughts put the fear there and almost scream.

Instead, in a very controlled voice, I answer “I will not be forcing myself on you, Vera. Not now, not ever. But we are married and so we would always sleep in the same room. I can’t have people thinking that this marriage is less than what a marriage is supposed to be.”

But my anger had been on a leash all night and I could no longer pretend that this entire day was perfect because it was not.

She probably senses the anger in my voice because she starts to explain. “My cousin, Katya, you met her at the wedding, came back home some days ago because her husband had been… hurting… her. For years.” Her voice cracks slightly. It allows me to understand a lot of things. Why Katya had not sat with her husband, why she glared at me and the really weird handshake from her father. “My dad and aunt hate that they can’t do anything to annul the marriage and she is probably already back with the god forsaken husband. But, it scared me. I just wanted to know if I would be safe with you.”

“If there’s one thing you’d never need to worry about from now on, especially when you are with me, is your safety, Vera.” She searches my eyes, probably trying to figure out how much truth was in my words.

We both enter the room. “You can arrange your things in the side of the closet that has been cleared.” Then, I enter the bathroom and close the door. I glance around once looking for an outlet for my anger, and I settle on the mirror.

I punch it hard, once. The crack sound fills the room as the glass pierces my skin. Vera abruptly opened the bathroom door.

“What on earth did you do to yourself?” She rushes towards me, holding my bloody hand out for inspection.

“Do you have a kit?” I do not reply. I did not want her in the same space as me, taking care of me if not I might be tempted to kiss her again.

“Do you have a first aid Kit?” She presses further. When I still do not answer her, she walks around me opening several cabinets till she finds what she’s looking for.

She pulls out the glass in my hand and proceeds to wipe my fist clean. I stand there watching her as she works. After she wraps my hand in a bandage she turns to leave.

“I am sorry if what I said pissed you off. And while I appreciate the fact that you won’t hurt me, I hope you’d offer the same courtesy to yourself. As much as I might like painting blood, I do not like seeing it.” Her head turns back slightly and eyes meet mine. “Especially not on the man that is meant to protect me.”

She leaves the bathroom and I am left standing in awe of my wife. Being married to Vera might become eventful.