Page 45 of Plus-Size Bratva Bride

“A movie theater?” I ask, shocked to my core. “You made a movie theater.” I’m mumbling in disbelief.

“I wanted a special place for us to spend time together and I know how much the movies mean to you.”

“Radmir—“ I gasp, feeling overwhelmed by a hundred emotions all at once. Confusion and conflict churns inside me. This man who I am meant to hate. This evil, treacherous, murderous man who has shown me nothing but how incredible he is. I am trying sohardto hate him, but it’s becoming more and more obvious that I can’t.

Everything I came here to do has been forgotten along the way. I don’t even think I should be here anymore.

He pushes me towards the chairs, an excited glimmer in his eyes that reminds me of opening presents on Christmasmorning. I chuckle at his joy. He’s so freaking excited to show me this room. It shows me how much thought and effort he put into it—just for me.All of this is for me.

No one has ever done anything even close to this special for me before.

“I assume you want to do thisproperly.” He asks with mock seriousness, “Popcorn, an oversized soda and, shall I bring you an assorted selection of sweets, or would you like to choose your own?”

I glance towards the colorful wall of sweets.

“I’d like to choose them.” I grin and he immediately ushers me to the sweetie bar.

The colorful sweet wall looks like something straight out of willy Wonka.

“I can’t believe you did all of this in a day,” I comment, knowing he couldn’t have done it any other time because I only told him about the movies last night. He hands me a little paper bag, it’s pretty with red and white stripes, to fill up with sweets while he goes to get our popcorn.

Over and over in my head I repeatthis isn’t real. The real him is a monster. Don’t fall for this.

But it’s no good. I’m falling. Whether I want to admit or not. I’m falling—all the way to the bottom of the cliff. I’m falling so hard I’m going to break every bone when I land. And this is a very dangerous position for me to be in.

What about your brother?

I’m confused.

We sit down in the movie chairs and he starts an old romantic comedy.

At first I’m uncomfortable, fidgeting and shifting in the chair, my thoughts all over the place, worrying about my own choices, but I keep hearing him chuckle at the movie and when he reaches out to softly place his hand on my leg. His gentle touch immediately soothes all of my anxiety away. He’s not supposed to have that effect on me, to be a source of calm for me. But that’s what happens.

I start paying more attention to the movie instead of the tension in my mind. Soon, I’m giggling and tucking into my sweets and popcorn. Radmir and I laugh loudly at the scenes and look at each other with amusement.

I pick up a piece of popcorn and flick it, hitting him in the cheek.

His eyes grow wide, he clearly hadn’t expected it, then dark with mischief. He picks up a handful of popcorn and throws it at me.

“What?” I stammer, laughing loudly.

I stand up and dust the popcorn off my seat and clothes then sit down again, but as I do he wraps his arm around me.

It feels so nice.

To be held like this.

To be embraced, gentle and warm.

I rest my head on his shoulder, trying to ignore the more intense responses in my body—the heat that is building and the quickening of my heart rate.

The movie goes on and we chat about plot, trying to guess who is going to do what and why it is or isn’t stupid.

“Oh, just tell her how you feel.” Radmir laughs at the lead male actor.

I glance towards him and he looks down at me, leaning in the crook of his shoulder. For a moment, I can’t breathe. His eyes are so deep, swirling pools of dark mystery. He reaches out and brushes hair from my face.

“You are beautiful, Jade. I can’t tell you that enough.”

---