The Unspoken Vow

Chapter Sixteen

Ivan

I got home around two in the morning and found Nyah asleep on my bed. She fell asleep while reading, the book I bought for her open, face down on her chest.
I took the book, looked for something to bookmark it with and finding nothing, I took off my tie and put it between where she left off, setting it on the bedside table.
I kissed her on the cheek, making her lay down more comfortably and she didn't even stir. Unable to stop myself, I kissed her again. Then went to the closet and changed into pajama pants.
I went back to bed, pulling Nyah to my chest, running my hand through her hair, kissing the top of her head. If this was what I came home to every single day, I wouldn't mind living forever.

~~~

I felt her move in my arms, her hand touching my face, her lips soft against my chest.
I opened my eyes, looking down at her and she grinned.
"I didn't feel you when you came," she mumbled against my chest, shuffling closer to me.
"You fell asleep reading," I told her, moving hair away from her face.
She gasped, sitting up, her pajama dress twisted in a way that I could see her breasts. "I didn't bookmark it!"
I righted her dress, kissing her neck. "Come back here, I bookmarked it for you," I said, tugging her back beside me.
She smiled up at me and kissed me. "Shouldn't we get out of bed though?" She asked, drawing circles on my chest.
"No, I missed you and I'm trying to keep you to myself,"
She laughed softly then held my face as she kissed my lips. "I missed you too," she whispered.
"Let's go back to sleep," I said, holding her tighter to me.
"But we just woke up," she argued, closing her eyes anyway.
I chuckled, kissing her head. "I'm still tired," I said, but she was already asleep.

~~~

We left the house a few hours later, a picnic basket in the trunk of my car and her in the passenger's seat wearing one of those flowy summer dresses we bought on our trip.
I drove to the lodge, my hand resting on her thigh and her rubbing circles over my hand as she told me about her thoughts on the book I've given her. She's read a lot in a short amount of time and I was glad and nonetheless proud of myself for buying her that book.
I drove us past the house and towards the lake.
"Where are we going?" She asked, looking back at the house.
"Somewhere you'll like," I answered.
I parked by the entrance of the path and got out, opening the door for Nyah. She grinned, then let me hold her hand after taking the picnic basket.
I led her out of the path and into a wide grassy opening, in the middle, was the lake, sparkling beneath the sun.
"Ivan..." she whispered, taking it in. "This was here this entire time and you never told me? I could have spent my time reading here!" She exclaimed and I had to laugh, give it to her for being the only one to make me do that these days.
"So you like it then?" I asked, rubbing my thumb over the back of her hand.
"Are you kidding? This is like, every reader's dream. Look! There's even ducks over there, I love it, Ivan, I really do," she said, walking to the edge of the lake, watching the ducks swim.
"Consider it yours,"
She looked at me, "What do you mean?" She asked, her tone confused.
"The land, the lake, all of it, it's yours,"
"Ivan, you can't just do that, can you? I mean you could build an entire house here, what will I ever do with this much land?" She asked, gesturing at the expanse.
"You can leave it as it is," I shrugged. "And keep it to yourself," I said, walking over to a willow tree, and setting the blanket down.
"But how much will that cost you?" She asked, following me, and laying out the food.
"It doesn't matter, love, if you want it, it's yours," I said. "Come here," I told her, patting down the spot beside me.
She sat down and leaned her head against my chest. "Your kindness is too much, Ivan, I haven't given or done anything for you,"
"I don't want anything else, just you," I kissed the top of her head and reached for one of the wrapped club sandwiches and handed it to her, getting my own.
She kissed me on the cheek. "Thank you, Ivan, for everything,"
I kissed her on the lips, "how about we build a library right there?" I asked, relishing the feel of her beside me, her scent occasionally drifting towards me, caught in the breeze.
She gasped, sitting straight and facing me. "Ivan," she said, her voice having a tone of finality.
"How big do you want it? We can take down those trees to expand the land," I began, pointing towards a patch of pine trees. "We could build it two, three storeys high. Add a basement, if you want," I said, looking back at her and there she sat, smiling at the empty space as if she could imagine it and right there it was so vivid; I loved her with everything I had and it physically hurt to know the control she had on me. Because had she asked me for anything or even thought about something, I knew that I would tear the world apart just to make it hers.
Her eyes caught mine, her smile the most beautiful thing I know. "Are you - do you really want to do that?" She asked, shuffling closer to me.
"If it makes you happy, then yes, absolutely," I answered.
Her smile widened. "I would love a library! Then we could have a garden beside it, right there and we could build swings too, for our kids!" She grinned, her eyes glittering.
"Kids?" I asked, smiling at how flustered she suddenly got.
"Well, given that you would want to have some, but we don't need to, of course, if you don't want them,"
I laughed, pulling her onto my lap, kissing her senseless. I wish I could tell her then, wished I could tell her how much I loved her, but how could I know she felt the same? How could I know that she wouldn't be afraid by that revelation? How would I know she won't break my heart? Because that's exactly what's bound to happen; my heart will shatter if she believed I wasn't good enough for her.
She rested her hands on my shoulders and smiled at me. "You know, you don't have to do all of these things for me, right?" She asked. "I mean, I appreciate them, I really do, I just don't want you to feel obligated to do them just because I'm your wife, and I'm content the way things are, I'm starting to really like you, Ivan," she said, kissing me slow. "And it has nothing to do with your gifts," she said, her lips now on my jaw. I let my hands trail up her waist, rubbing up and down as she kissed me, her lips hot and needy, locked with mine.
She pulled back, looking into my eyes. "Give me a chance to give you a gift this time, okay?" She asked, with a smile. Then got off me, taking a slice of bread and walking to the lake barefoot.
"I'm gonna feed the ducks!" She called out, then sat down at the edge, taking away small pieces as the ducks went to her.
I got my phone out and took a picture of her holding out her hand to one of the baby ducks, a big smile on her face and set it as my wallpaper.
Just then, a phone call came in, popping the bubble of happiness I got caught in and I stood up, answering Kaian's call.
"Something came up with the bank in New York, we need you there," he said without greeting.
"What's wrong with the bank?"
"They're sniffing out Malachi's files again,"
I sighed, pinching the bridge of my nose. Malachi could be troublesome when he chose to. I wonder what the fuck happened that he needed to get attention from the cops. "When do you need me?"
"As soon as possible, Ivan, no later than after tomorrow," he answered.
"Book my flight, then, tomorrow midnight,"
He ended the call and I turned back to find Nyah waiting for me on the blanket, eating some of the cheesecake.
She looked up and smiled, I noticed the small yellow fluff on her lap, still snacking on some bread.
"I think this duck wants me to keep her," she said, picking it up.
I sat back down. "The mother isn't angry?" I asked, looking back at the water and finding the ducks no longer there.
"I don't think she even noticed,"
The duck hopped onto my knee and stared, looking at me with its head sideways.
"It likes you too, and I really thought I was special." She said with a feigned frown, her lips pouting.
I chuckled, taking the duck in my hand, it was tiny. I put it back on the picnic blanket and we watched it waddle around, eating the bread Nyah kept feeding it.
"I've got a business trip coming," I said after a while.
She looked up, a real frown on her lips. "When?"
"I need to leave tomorrow,"
"Oh," she said, then turned her attention back to the duck. I took her hand and kissed it.
"I'm sorry,"
"It's okay, we'll just do stuff when you come back. And anyway, it gives me time to get my gift for you," she said, her smile returning.
She was so damn sincere, I did not deserve this woman.

~~~

On our way back to the Villa, I took the longer way, wanting to spend more time with Nyah and her eyes stayed out the window, her finger lazily tracing circles on my hand.
We went through the city and passed by some shops, I looked over at Nyah and followed her line of sight, she gasped at a dress displayed in one window and I slowed the car.
"You wanna go check the shops?" I asked, backing up into a parking spot before she could even respond.
"Are you sure?" She asked, looking at me.
"Of course, come on," I said, getting out of the car, opening the door for her and taking her hand, leading her to the shop.
Once inside, she began to look around, her eyes glancing at the window display from time to time.
"You like the dress?" I asked, nodding towards the gold dress on display.
"It's beautiful, but it's probably expensive," she said.
I look for a sale's associate and gestured for one to come over.
"What size do you wear?" I asked.
"Don't buy it for me, you've given me enough, Ivan."
I walked over to the display and looked at the dress more closely.
"I want to buy it so you can wear it for me," I said.
She opened her mouth to speak then closed it again, hiding her smile, then turned to the salesperson, "I'll try a medium,"
I wasn't even going to think about what that smile did to my dick.
"For sure," the woman grinned. "Just to let you know, the piece is a special edition so our stock is limited and it is a bit more on the expensive side,"
I nodded. Nyah looked at me again, uncertainty in her eyes.
"I don't mind," I told her.
Nyah smiled at me and followed the saleswoman to the fitting rooms.
It was a luxury store, full of mixed brands and I found Tom Ford near the fitting rooms.
"Do you have Lost Cherry in stock?" I asked another salesperson.
"Yes, sir, but we only have a few left,"
"I'll take all of them,"
He looked a bit surprised, then swallowed. "Would you like the fifty milliliter or the one hundred?"
"Every bottle you have in stock," I answered.
"Oh, okay,"
"Just add it under Ivan Volkov, I'm still looking around,"
"Yes, sir,"
Nyah came out after a while, back in her regular clothes and I frowned.
"You're not gonna let me see you in it?"
"Not yet," she grinned.
"Alright, then, let's look around some more,"
We walked around the store, Nyah finding shoes, other items of clothing, examining them, commenting on what she thought about them. The ones she liked I added to my tab and she kept insisting for me not to get her stuff but I kept telling her that I would get them anyway and eventually, she stopped resisting and I was glad.
We nearly walked through the whole store until I saw a Cartier bracelet on display in a dimly lit clear glass box.
Nyah followed my gaze and walked over to the glass box.
"Holy shit, Ivan, that's so expensive,"
"Try it on, it matches your engagement ring," I told her.
"But do you see the price?" She asked, her mouth hanging open.
"How much?" I asked, when the saleswoman handed me the bracelet.
"The whole bracelet is pure diamond so-"
"How much?" I asked the woman again.
"Fifty thousand dollars, sir,"
"Only?" I asked, looking back at the saleswoman.
"W-well, it's-"
"Ivan, I'm not letting you buy me that!" Nyah exclaimed. "Fifty thousand dollars for a bracelet? That's ridiculous!" She added, taking the bracelet carefully out of my hand and handing it back to the woman. She grabbed my arm and pulled me away. "That's enough shopping, I got everything I could ever wish to get in this shop," she said.
"Are you uncomfortable?" I asked.
"A bit, I'm just not used to being spoiled like this," she answered.
"Your father is a wealthy man," I said then at the sight of the frown on her face, regretting I said it. "I'm sorry, that wasn't polite,"
"No it's okay, my dad is rich, but he's selfish," she said, shrugging. "It doesn't matter, he hasn't meddled in my life recently so I'm okay,"
"Ok," I said, taking her hand in mine. I looked at the other Cartier bracelets as we passed them and stopped her again. "What about that one? It's only ten grand," I asked, pointing at a silver bracelet covered in diamonds.
"Absolutely not,"
"You got me a bracelet," I argued.
"Yes, from a street market in Indonesia! That cost barely a dollar and look," she said, taking my arm again and holding it up, exposing the black and red bracelet she got me that matched the one on her wrist. "It's fraying, already, this," she said, wiggling my hand. "Does not equate to that," she finished off, pointing to the bracelet on the stand.
"Alright, alright, no expensive bracelets," I chuckled.
"Thank you," she sighed. "Really, Ivan, everything you bought me today put together could probably be three month's pay of a penthouse in Dubai,"
"You deserve it,"
She really did. Deserved all that I could give her. And even that wouldn't be enough.