Page 25 of The Bratva's Plus-Size Bride

I stop dead in my tracks. “I’ll comb this beach for the rest of the day if that’s what it takes.”

She takes pity on me, relenting. “It’s perfect. You’re forgiven. After all, you were only trying to keep your promise, and I can’t really blame you for that. Even if, in the moment, I hated it.”

We stop at the walkway up to the hotel and brush sand and saltwater from our lower legs before pulling our shoes back on. It’s not the most pleasant feeling, my socks sticking to my tacky skin, and I would have preferred stopping for a quickshower before heading into the city, but that’s just the way it is with Anya. You get pulled along for the ride.

***

Two hours later, we’re at our third store and somehow, Anya has managed to loosen up Ella to the point where she actually seems to be enjoying the shopping experience. I’ve settled into a comfortable sofa with a strong coffee and some work on my phone while I wait for them to finish trying on shoes. Ella still hasn’t bought anything, though Anya is already carrying two bags. Correction, I’m carrying two bags, because I’m a sucker who can’t say no to my little sister.

“What do you think?” Anya kicks up her leg to display a pair of black pumps, the type of professional shoe one might wear to the office. “Businessy enough for my new workplace?”

“What new workplace is that?” I look back down at my phone. “Because I know you don’t mean my office.”

“Luka’s office,” she jabs back. “And that’s exactly what I mean. What do you think, Ella? You love them, don’t you?”

Ella is way too nice. “They look great on you. I could definitely see you wearing those with a suit.”

Anya gasps when Ella stands up, and I pull my gaze away from my phone to see what has her so excited. “Youhaveto get those, El. They look perfect on you! Doesn’t she look hot, Anton? Tell her how hot she looks.”

“I’m her boss,” I remind Anya, but I’m stealing a long look at Ella anyway. The shoes look good on her, but then, what doesn’t? “They’re nice shoes.”

“God, you are so lame,” Anya groans, toeing off her pumps and pulling another shoe box toward herself. “You haveto buy those, though. I’m serious. If you don’t buy them, I’m going to buy them for you.”

True to form, Ella resists. She doesn’t know yet that arguing with Anya is a fruitless battle. If she thinks I’m stubborn, she’s about to find out what the word really means.

“I really don’t need any more shoes,” Ella replies, sitting down to take off the pair she’s wearing. She’s barely got them off before Anya thrusts another pair into her hands.

Anya tuts. “Who said anything about need? You’re on vacation! You need to loosen up.”

“I’ve been telling her that same thing,” I chime in, not looking up.

“Like you can talk,” Ella argues.

She’s looking longingly at the pair in the box Anya just handed her and damn do I want to spoil this girl because she sure as shit isn’t going to do it for herself. When was the last time she bought something just because she wanted to, not because it was a necessity?

“I know how to loosen up. If you recall, we went out dancing just the other night.”

Any gasps. “You got him to go out and party? That’s a miracle, El, seriously. Normally, he’s all about the grind.”

When Ella slides on the next pair, a set of sky-high stilettos with little silver chains around the ankle, I can’t stop staring. It’s not just the shoes, though the chain detail has me thinking about how much I’d like to tie her up and have my way with her. It’s the thought of her injustthe shoes. And nothing else. Her perfect, naked body and those heels.

I’m growing hard in the middle of a shoe shop, just imagining it. I cross my legs to hide the evidence. Luckily thegirls are distracted, cooing over how good the heels look on Ella, and no one notices the way I’m practically eye fucking her.

“Okay, these you have to get,” Anya insists, taking Ella by both hands. “I insist.”

“You sound like your brother,” Ella says with a long-suffering sigh. “So demanding. So stubborn.”

“It’s a family trait,” Anya agrees with absolutely zero shame. “Doesn’t she have to get these?”

They both turn to look at me, and I hope I’m doing a good job of hiding the erection straining the front of my chinos. “Let me treat you both. Get whatever you want from this store and I’ll pay, as long as this is the last store.”

Let them think I’m bored to death watching them try on shoes because I can’t admit to the reality that I’d happily watch Ella do literally anything all day, especially if she looks like she’s enjoying herself.

“I can’t—" Ella begins just as Anya blurts out, “Deal!”

She shushes Ella. “Let him pay, El. He has the money, and really, he’s buying himself out of having to shop all day, so don’t even feel guilty.”

If Anya weren’t there, Ella would never agree to it, but this makes it seem like I’m spoiling my little sister, and I watch the argument die in her eyes. She bites her lip, then nods.

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