was no longer seated at the front row of the hall, I now stood just at the podium, trembling. My attire was different. Gone was the orange silk dress, it was now replaced with a dazzling white dress covered in Swarovski crystals as I transitioned from being one of the bridesmaids to the actual bride.
The priest lifted the suffocating silence. "Mr. Hera, do you take Lorraine Cobain to be your lawfully wedded wife?" he asked.
"Yes, I do," Angelo declared, his voice low and bassy as he held my hands, and his eyes were stuck on me as if I were the only person in the whole world, staring with fierce intensity. He gripped my hand in a way that felt a bit too tight.
"Miss Loraine, do you take Mr.Hera as your lawfully wedded husband?" the priest asked, turning to me.
While looking around the hall, my eyes were scanning the crowd. The mood in the room was not of happiness, but rather of sympathy. My father was bowing his head, unable to meet my gaze. Then I spotted my little sister Carrie, quietly crying into her hand. At that moment I understood that there was no way out. No matter what, I was going to have to go through with this.
"Ye..yes, I do." I stammered.
"I present to you Mr and Mrs Hera." The priest announced gleefully.
Everyone present gave an applause that lacked enthusiasm because frankly, there was nothing to be happy about..
"You may now kiss the bride." Said the priest.
I stiffened, but he didn't.
Instead he leaned in, clasping his arms at the back on my neck to pull me in forcefully, then he crashed his lips against mine, not soft or tenderly but in a way that declared that I belonged to him.
At that moment, something flickered inside me, something confusing and unwanted. I expected to feel disgusted and repulsed by his touch but instead I felt something else -electricity.
For some reasons I didn't understand, the kiss felt good.
I dismissed it as just the nerves getting to me.
We walked back down the aisle, our hands locked together, My hands were sweaty and my heart raced faster than a horse. I could hear the whispers, people talking about the dress, the silence, the fear but none of it mattered because I was now Mrs. Hera - The wife of a man people feared more than death.
–
The car ride was silent and suffocating. Angelo sat beside me like a statue, unmoving, unreadable and emotionless. His sharp and intoxicating cologne made me nearly pass out from nausea or maybe that was due to the fact that my body felt like it didn't belong to me anymore.
He didn't look at me, not even for a split second. He didn't need too. His presence alone felt like a surveillance.
"You're awfully quiet." He said, breaking the silence.
"I have nothing to say." I muttered, barely audible.
"That'll have to change. You're my wife, not a mindless robot and I won't have you sulking in silence."
I turned my head and slowly looked up at him. "What does your wife get to do?"
A dark grin stretched across his face. "She gets to obey."
I swallowed hard and my heart thumped loudly. He wasn't being metaphorical. He meant it. Every word.
The car slowly pulled up to a massive iron gate. A guard unlocked it and I watched in awe as it slowly creaked open revealing an enormous mansion that looked larger than life. It was surrounded by high walls, security cameras and armed guards. All of it only meant one thing - I was trapped here.
"Welcome to your new life, Lorraine." He whispered in a way that sent chills down my spine. "Try not to disappoint me."
Inside the mansion looked like a Victorian castle. It had gold plated chandeliers, velvet curtains and marbled floors but the house lacked one thing - Warmth. It felt empty, like there was no life in there.
A maid stood by the door and gave a curt bow as soon as she sighted Angelo.
"Take her to the rose room." Angelo commanded.
"Yes sir." She responded.
She led the way and I followed her up the stairs and into a long, dimly lit hallway
We stopped at a room at the very end of the hallway. "We're here ma'am," The maid said softly as she opened the large white door.
The room was grand and pristine, it contained a king sized bed with a gold-plated frame, fireplace and a private balcony. The place was beautiful and yet I didn't feel slightly better.
"Everything you need will be in the closet. Dinner is at eight." She added and gave me a polite bow before leaving the room and closing the door behind her.
I sat by the edge of the bed. Taking in the view of the unfamiliar luxury.
And then I broke down.
The tears streamed down my face, fast and hot. I sobbed into a pillow with a heaving chest and hands that wouldn't stop trembling.
I couldn't believe it.
I was married, and not just to anyone - A man whose reputation was as bloody as it gets.
Was Maria even alive? Would I ever know what happened to her - or to Carrie or my parents?
The thought of it all drove me insane.
I got up slowly and walked into the bathroom to wash off my tear streaked face and when I noticed the bath tub.
It was unlike any bathtub I've ever seen, hell, we didn't even own one back home. I only got to see them in movies but there was one right in front of me now, shimmering with petals of pink and purple flowers.
After everything I've been through, a decent bath seemed like it might fix me for just a moment.
I took off my clothes and slid in slowly. I let out a relieved gasp as the warm water soothed my aching bones.
I sank deeper letting it all soak into me - the heat, the quiet, the feeling of being still for the first time since my chaotic wedding.
Eventually, I stepped out of the bath and reached for the nearest towel. I dabbed it against my skin before hastily wrapping it around myself. It wasn't long enough, it barely covered my chest and left most of my thighs exposed.
I walked towards the drawer when I heard the creaking sound of the door opening.
I shrieked!
And there he was - Angelo.
He strode in majestically, like he owned everything in the room, including me. His eyes landed on me and stayed there.
"Oh my God!" I gasped, stumbling back while I used one hand to clutch the edge of my towel around me.
"You didn't lock the door." He said, his voice low and gravely.
"Well you didn't knock." I snapped.
He took a step towards me. "I don't need to. This is my house and you're my wife."
I took a shaky breath and took a step back. The towel slipped off my chest, revealing my nipples for a split second but I quickly yanked it back in place.
"You look better like this." He continued, scanning me with his hungry eyes. "Quiet. Obedient. Wet."
I flinched and immediately averted my gaze off him.
"You shouldn't be in here." I whispered.
He ignored that completely. "I'm guessing you enjoyed your bath. The oils are from Greece. Infused with crushed lotus and aphrodisiacs."
He tilted his head, his voice dripping with venom. "Feel anything unusual?"
My thighs pressed together involuntarily.
He smirked. He noticed.
My heart pounded so loudly I could hear them. I couldn't speak nor move.
He moved closer, so close I could feel the heat of his body and smell his masculine woody cologne.It made my head spin in a good way.
Then with his fingers, he lightly traced the edge of my towel.
"I walked in on my wife dripping wet, barely covered, smelling like fucking honey and flowers." He growled, fixating his gaze on mine. "Do you know what that does to a man?"
I swallowed hard, trying to control my breathing.
"Listen, I don't need you to love me Lorraine, but I expect you to serve me."
He leaned in and whispered roughly into my ear. "Now kneel and suck me off like a good wife."