3: Awkward Ambiance

Quinlan was so upset that he couldn't stop clenching his jaw the whole time he rode in the carriage with Penelope to his home.

He told his parents and friends they would speak on the morrow when they approached him right after the marriage. His father with flared nostrils had pulled his exasperated mother away when she was being persistent.

To say they were disappointed in him was an understatement. But he didn't care, what pained him to the bone was the fact that Cecile, the Luna approached him with something wrapped in a gift box and told him she was happy to see him married.

Just how heartless could she be? Knowing fully well that he was still so helplessly in love with her even though he was hurting. And then he watched leave with Alpha Kieran.

Quinlan's heart clenched so tight in his chest that he could barely breathe, so he had to look away to let ventilation flow freely into his lungs, otherwise, he'd have choked from lack of air.

He felt so hot inside like he could barely breathe and he kept muttering curses under his breath because it could've been better to shift into his wolf and run along home but he couldn't leave his bride.

Penelope sensed his uneasiness and then cleared her throat, "you know you could still change your mind about this whole thing."

"What?" Quinlan was forced to avert his attention to her, "what do you mean?"

"I can sense your regret, my lord. You did this to keep your position and now it's eating you up because it's not what you want. You mustn't make a foolish decision because you're temporarily hurt," her words were more like advice, and Quinlan's lips parted to speak, but she held up a hand to silence him.

"Allow me, my lord. For I have not finished,"

Quinlan gazed at her, unblinking as his throat worked which indicated that he took a hard gulp.

"You could easily resign from being the Alpha's beta, you have enough wealth to take care of things. It's not too late to back out now, you could tell everyone you had a change of mind and then move into a new city to start life afresh."

Quinlan stared at this woman, astounded. How could she say such a thing to him? She was willing to give this up because she sensed his hurt? She didn't want the money anymore?

Just as if she was reading his thoughts, she placed a hand on his thigh, rendering him uncomfortable.

"I could refund you half of the pounds you gave to me and keep half to myself, for all the troubles. Having to clad myself in a long dress, posing as your bride and ignoring the spiteful glances and displeasing remarks thrown in my way," and she stroked his thigh with a smile, before withdrawing her hand to herself.

Quinlan gritted his teeth because he didn't like getting touched by another woman, mostly a prostitute who have slept with men she might have lost count of, but he couldn't deny how his thigh hardened and vibrated when she placed her hand there.

On the other hand, she was so smart, sensitive, and considerate. Stunned the shit out of his senses because he couldn't believe she could talk like that.

"No, my lady. Let's keep our deal," he was interjecting when the carriage went along a bumpy road and they jiggled in the carriage, even accidentally headbutting each other.

"Ouch!" Penelope groaned, slapping a palm to her forehead from the pain she just sustained from the impact.

"I'm sorry," Quinlan unconsciously raised a hand to touch her forehead, it was until Penelope asked him what he was doing when he got a grip of himself and withdrew his hand.

"Permit me, my lord. You're big headed, my whole brain shook when your head slammed into mine, it was as if someone's fist got slammed in there." Penelope said with a tiny chuckle.

Quinlan found himself biting down on his bottom lip to restrain himself from smiling. Because her statement was amusing, and how she had sounded so serious at first.

"We will start addressing each other by our names since we're married now," he said, after clearing the smile off his face.

"As you wish,"

"My apologies for my family's behavior, Penelope," he breathed out after jamming his fingers through his hair, "it was uncalled for."

"There's not to feel remorseful for, it was understandable. They weren't expecting to see their reserved son marry the town's biggest whore. They have every right to act that way,"

"So you didn't feel embarrassed?"

Penelope cackled, "you underestimate me, Quinlan. Being a whore made me grow a thick skin, trust me I've seen worse. People outside of the pleasure house see me as a walking disaster already." Her lip curved into a smile as she placed her hand on his thigh again.

Quinlan immediately pulled her hand away in a gentle manner because she was doing it again, trying to seduce him.

"I'm sorry, Penelope, but I don't like being touched like this. You tend to forget the contract terms." He pointed out.

"Forgive me then, Quinlan. It's just hard to keep talking with a man and not having to touch him. It is a die-hard habit of mine, but I will adjust," she offered him a smile of apology and then clasped her hand together.

Quinlan nodded flippantly and then stared out the window once more. Penelope Ravenscourt was well-mannered, he admired how bold and outspoken she was. How she could look him right in the eye and not blink when majority of ladies felt shy from exchanging glances with him. He took it that working at the pleasure house for fifteen years made her that way.

Surprisingly, he didn't feel as bad as he did earlier. He almost forgot he was upset.

They met another bump on the road and this shook the carriage, throwing Penelope over his lap.

"Dear me," Penelope exclaimed, trying to move away from his lap but it was impossible, the carriage kept stepping in bumps and it made her bounce on Quinlan's lap.

"This is embarrassing," Quinlan gritted out as he attempted to put her away, but found himself holding onto her body tightly as they bounced together inside the carriage like two people getting intimate.

The carriage rider had his eyes dilated in their sockets because he thought they couldn't get enough of each other and were doing it right inside the carriage because of their moans and groans, despite the road being bulky.

"My lord, my lady, I apologize for I had no idea this road was as bad as this. I took it because it's the quickest way home, figuring you both couldn't wait for enough time to reach the lord's chambers," said the carriage rider.

Penelope's shoulders shook along with her as she burst into a fit of laughter upon hearing this.

Quinlan clenched his jaw and pulled her away from him.

"Are there any more bumps in the road," he asked flippantly.

"No, my lord. It's all over,"

He released a puff of relieved breath after hearing this. Having Penelope bounce on his lap was something he didn't want to think about even though it just happened a few minutes ago. He found it disturbing.