Page 35 of The Bratva's Auctioned Bride
I bite my lip, ignoring my thought.
“I want street food,” I declare.
“But you can go to any luxury restaurant on this entire island…” he tells me, his brows knotted and his lips curling up at the end.
“Luxury restaurants are not going to be as authentic as walking down a busy, noisy, bubbling street and nibbling seven different flavors from seven different vendors as we explore somewhere.”
“A night market,” he says, nodding.
I look at him with raised brows, questioning.
“I know the exact place I’m going to take you. If the princess wants street food, she will get street food. And yes, I couldn’t agree more. I’d choosethatover a stuck-up restaurant any day. No matter how many stars were on the door.”
***
A small speedboat takes us from the yacht to the shore. My summer dress whips in the wind as we speed along. Our next stop is a garden so magical it looks like someone pulled it right out of the pages of a fairytale. The leaves of the tropical plants are so green and so big, they tower over us like a roof. The flowers are saturated with colors I’ve never seen in nature before. Orange more orange than ever before, and pinks and blues that make me stare as I run my finger over the soft petals.
Diomid pulls his phone out, as he often does, and snaps photographs of me posing with giant flowers and hiding behind one leaf of a monstera plant that completely conceals me.
He took photos of me in the water as well, and last night, enjoying the cocktails and the colorful evening.
“Do I get to see these photos at any point?” I ask.
“These memories are going to stay with you forever, princess. I’ll make an album for you, maybe a coffee table book. And whenever you look at the photos of yourself in this magical place, you’ll remember…”
“How much fun I have with you,” I blurt out, not thinking.
He turns toward me with his brows furrowed. “I was going to say… how it feels to truly live life and feel free. But … yours works better.” His eyes light up, and his smile is wider than I’ve ever seen it. My heart flips over several times before I manage to take a breath.
“I’m not eating that,” I declare, pulling my mouth in horror as Diomid takes a bite of a starfish.
“What about this?” he asks, gesturing toward the chicken feet, grilled over an open flame.
“I, uh…” My stomach is protesting already. “No.”
“Really, did I find something the princess is too scared to try?” he muses.
“Scared? No. I just don’t want to die of food poisoning,” I say defensively.
“Don’t be a drama queen. You’re just scared.”
My eyes narrow at him, hating the fact that he has this power over me.
“Give it here,” I demand, holding out my hand. I refuse to let him get the better of me.
He hands me the last bite of starfish, and with great reluctance, I pop it into my mouth.
Salt immediately coats my tongue. I fight the urge to gag. Squeeze my eyes shut as the strange, spongy texture haunts me.Then I swallow. Gag again. And glare at him with watery tears streaming down my cheeks.
“That wasdisgusting,” I gasp.
He packs up laughing, leaning forward, his hands on his knees. “I’m so sorry, I know. It’s horrible.” He can barely breathe.
“Are you serious? You knew it was that bad, but you ate it too?” I scoff.
“I only did it to convince you. I can’t stand the taste. But aren’t you glad you dared to try?” he’s laughing so hard he has to wipe tears from his eyes.
“You’re such an asshole,” I punch him in the arm, grabbing his beer from his hand and taking two long gulps. But I’m laughing too. I feel bold and wild. I just ate a starfish. And it was disgusting.
