Bed behind him 32_Bound by Lies, Trapped by Desire

Chapter 32 

 Elena’s POV:

 My thumb hovered over the screen of my phone, my eyes wide, scrolling through what looked like a digital wildfire.

 “What the hell,” I muttered, and my voice didn’t sound like mine.

 Niki turned from the counter again, spat in hand, raising a brow at me.

 Told you to be prepared,” he said nonchntly, flipping thest golden waffle onto the pristine white te.

 I blinked at the screen again.

 “STOLEN BRIDE?” The title shed at me in bold, tabloid–style font above a photograph that was unmistakably us. Him, in his tailored suit, carrying me bridal–style through the lobby, my face half–hidden in his chest like a proper damsel. It was cinematic. Too cinematic. There were zoomed in pictures, videos with blurred thumbnails, peoplementing things like “omg goals” and “seems toxic but hot.” I was literally trending.

 I held the phone up to him.

 “You knew this would happen and

 you still carried me?!”

 Niki barely blinked, setting the te down with ease, “Is it wrong though?”

 My mouth opened. Then closed. Then opened again.

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 “I don’t care if it’s wrong or right, Niki. I’m going to university today! I thought I would have to deal with just a couple rumors…not a full–blown article headlined STOLEN BRIDE?!” 

 He snorted like I was being unreasonable, like I hadn’t just had my life thrown onto a silver tter for social media vultures to feast on.

 “You were hoping for too much then, Malishka. You married a billionaire. Did you think people would just… ignore that?”

 He crossed the distance between us before I could even get out another word and caged me against the counter. His hands braced on either side of my hips. I tried to stay mad, but it was difficult when his scent was a mix of coffee, vani, and his deodorant. Which gave me shbacks ofst night. Before everything with Dmitri happened.

 He picked up a piece of waffle from my te which I had forgotten about, dragging it through syrup before holding it up

 him.

 to my lips. I stared at

 “Seriously?” 

 “Eat. You’re going to need the sugar.”

 I hesitated, then took the bite, mostly because I was hungry but also because his eyes were doing that thing where they made it hard to argue.

 Damn him.

 “Is this going to keep happening?” I asked, my voice muffled through the bite. “Like, should I be worried about stalkers now?” 

 He smirked, brushing his thumb along the corner of my mouth to wipe a dot of syrup. His touch was too gentle. “You don’t need to worry about that. I’ll take care of any other stalkers.” 

 I raised a brow, chewing slowly. “Other stalkers? So you’re going to keep stalking me?” 

 He didn’t even flinch.

 “I’m your husband. I have the right to stalk you.” 

 My heart did that annoying fluttery thing again and I tried to swat it down. “Temporary husband,” I muttered, crossing my arms.

 “But still your husband, he teased, leaning in just enough that I had to tilt my head back.

 Ipointed at his chest. “Why the hell are your shirtless in the kitchen?” 

 He looked down at himself as if he’d forgotten. “I’m not naked. I’m wearing sweats. And an apron.”

 “Naked on top. 

 He grinned. “Don’t I look hot? I thought you’d jump me the moment you saw me like this,” 

 I rolled my eyes. “The only thing I’m jumping are these waffles. You really are an amazing cook though. Damn.” 

 ? ? ? ? ?? ??

 He preened like a cat being </bplimented for shredding furniture. “Don’t I deserve a reward then?” 

 He gave me that look. That look. The one that said he wasn’t thinking about hugs or thank–yous.

 I felt my face heat up and shook my head. “I’mte for ss. I already took a whole week off.”

 A look of disappointment crossed his face. I almost burst intoughter.

 But something about the way his smile faltered at the edges made my chest tighten. A small pang of guilt twisted inside me.

 “Hey,” I said, bumping my shoulder into his arm. “I’ll reward youter. Promise.” 

 His face brightened like I’d just handed him a million–dor deal.

 We cleared the tes together. I washed while he dried, our movements slipping into a quiet rhythm. Domesticity with Niki felt bizarrely natural. 

 Afterward, we headed upstairs. I grabbed a towel and turned on the shower, thinking he’d go back downstairs. Instead, he walked right in behind <ol><li>me. </li></ol>

 +28

 “Excuse you,” I said,

 narrowing.

 Water conservation,” he replied smoothly. “Global warming, Malishka. Do your part.

 Iughed despite myself and let him stay.

 I decided to be quick about the shower because if I stayed too long then his wandering hands would definitely make me give in to him. But then I’d bete to ss and it was already eight.

 I stepped out of the bathroom with a towel around myself realizing a problem. Before I even voiced concerns he moved past me opened the walk in closet, ushering me inside.

 in a 

 robe and

 My brows rose as I took in the whole closet. It was as big as his bedroom, with rows of clothes, shoes, bags and in the middle was a vast ss table with drawers. I didn’t have time to take in everything. The closet was obviously divided in half with women’s clothing on one side and men’s on the

 other. I frown.

 “Why do you have so much women’s clothing?” I asked and he looked at me like I was stupid.

 “Maybe….because I have a wife now?” He said slowly, turning to take out a zer from the cupboard.

 I felt my face heat up then. So he did this just for me? When did he get the time? 

 Once we were clean, dressed, and mostly decent, he grabbed his car keys and offered to drop me off. I refused. He insisted. I rolled my eyes and gave in. 

 But the moment I stepped out of his ridiculously expensive ck Mercedes–which he insisted was one of his cheaper cars—in front of campus, I regretted it. 

 Heads turned. Phones came out. People whispered.

 I could feel the invisible headlines swirling in the air like pollen.

 Billionaire drops off student wife in designer clothes. Elena Vetrov spotted!

 I swallowed a groan. 

 “Should’ve just taken the bus,” I muttered under my breath.

 Niki leaned across the seat, </bpletely unbothered by the staring students. Want me to pick you up <bter?” 

 I shot him a re. “Absolutely not.”

 He grinned like I’d just said yes and waved as I shut the door.

 The moment I turned away from the car, I fished my phone from my bag and hit call.

 “Mom?”

 Sweetheart! Everything okay?”

 “Yeah, everything’s fine. Just wanted to check in,‘ I said, smiling faintly.

 echo the t

 AD

17kNovel

Bed behind him 32