5| A chaste kiss

Sianna's POV

"Sia, promise me you'll tell me every detail of your first night with that luscious hunk," Lily exclaimed as she handed me the earrings.

"I'm telling you for the hundredth time that nothing will happen the way you're thinking!" While wearing those diamond earrings, I imparted.

We wanted a simple wedding because it is nothing more than a compromise for us, but Aldrich's father insisted on us looking presentable because it is his only son's wedding. Aldrich has persuaded him not to invite anyone, so there will be a very small number of people.

Mr. Edward Lionel, Aldrich's father, has given me the dress and jewelry as a gift for his daughter-in-law, and Lily is assisting me with the makeup. He has kept the wedding in his hotel, which is heavily guarded, so that no paparazzi can intrude on our privacy.

"You mean to say that things are going to be beyond my imagination? Oh my goodness! I can't wait until tomorrow morning "She dreamily batted her eyelashes.

I asked, "When was the last time you watched porn?"

"Umm..." she paused, thinking, "the last month when I forced you to watch it for the first time," she smirked.

"Then go watch it right now and stop eating my brain," I nearly yelled, irritated by her childish behavior.

"What's the point?" She shrugged "When I am getting a chance to hear a real-life experience" a chuckle escaped her lips.

"How could you say such a thing when you already know why I'm marrying him?" I sighed.

"Yes, I know it's just a compromise for you, but I also know that physical intimacy is something your hormones can't resist, especially when a sexually appealing man like him and a cute yet sexy girl like you are locked in a room," she winked mischievously.

"You are an incorrigible woman!" I muttered under my breath.

"Undoubtedly," she laughed, throwing her head back.

I stood up and gave myself a final and approving look in the mirror, ignoring this overly happy girl and tugging on my simple yet elegant wedding gown.

"You are looking killer today. I am sure he won't be able to keep his hands with himself to..."

One glare from me was enough for her to drop her words midway. Good for her...

"Let's go otherwise a turmoil will take place in this hotel if we became late by a minute" I whirled around and made my way to the door.

"Practicing to be a devotional wife....hunh....not bad".

I stepped out of the room, ignoring Lily's teasing comment, while hiking up my dress, which is Lily's responsibility, but she's too busy in her Lala land to care.

When we exited the room, two girls met us and directed us to the banquet hall. After seeing the stunning decoration of the place, I was astounded. Everything is tastefully decorated, from the ceiling to the floor. It looks like a dream marriage for any girl.

Aldrich's father has spent a significant amount of money on its decoration because, to him, it is a normal wedding that will unite two souls, but he is unaware that these souls are incompatible and were not meant to be together.

Despite the awe-inspiring decor, it was my father's presence that brought a wide smile to my face. He was sitting in a wheelchair, pushed at the corner of the hall. His eyes were too preoccupied with the decoration to notice my presence.

Hiking up my gown, I took a step towards him and sat on my knees, beaming with joy. I was relieved because he was finally out of the hospital after three months.

Lifting his hand, he put it on my head to caress it with love. I leaned in for his blessing.

"My princess," he said, his eyes welling up.

"Why are you crying?" With knitted brows, I inquired. I can't see him crying.

""These are the tears of happiness," he blinked several times to wipe away the tears, "and they are spilling out of my eyes because my heart cannot contain the joy." This was my dream, to see you happily married before my eyes closed forever..." He takes a sniff.

"Dad, could you please?"

I know my father's life is short, but it makes my heart clench every time I think about it. I'm still hoping for a miracle to happen.

"Shh... It's your wedding day. I don't want you to be sad. "Now show me your smile," he said as he cupped my cheeks, and I smiled back, "my princess is actually looking like a princess today.""

He leaned in to kiss my forehead, and I raised my body as he struggled to move, and he kissed my forehead, saying, "God bless you."

As the sound of the boot clicking against the floor reached my ear, I stood up and took a step back.

Aldrich and his father, escorted by their bodyguards, approached us with power and authority.

Aldrich was dressed to the nines in his pricey check suit. Every authoritative step he took narrowed the gap between us. His chin is always up, his eyes are proud, and he has arrogance on his nose. He always walks around as if he's a king, superior to everyone.

"Oh my God, Sia, I'm starting to be jealous of you," lily said as she rested her head on my shoulder, "he's freaking hot," she exclaimed as she took a deep breath.

She's practically drooling over him. I nudged her to get her back on the ground.

"Lily, behave, this is why I wasn't bringing you here," I chastised her.

"I'm warning you, Sia. He's a babe magnet, so keep your eyes peeled."

I locked my gaze on her.

"He's a hottie," she mumbled again, agitating me.

"And haughty as well..." I clenched my teeth.

"What?" Her brow furrowed.

"Enough of your annoyance. Now shut up or I'll show your parents what kind of books you read in the name of literature "I chastised her.

Lily became quiet because she knows I'm capable of doing so. This girl needs to stop reading that crap because it's wreaking havoc on her brain.

Aldrich's father shook my father's hand and approached me. I and Lily greeted him, and he blessed us.

With indecipherable expressions on his face, Aldrich looked up and racked his gaze down my body.

Lily moves her fingers to catch his attention and greets him. He averted his gaze from her to his father without responding.

As I previously stated, he is full of arrogance and haughtiness, and he is insensitive to other people's feelings.

"Can we proceed with the wedding formalities once you've finished the welcoming session?" His deep, rough voice reached our ears.

"Of course, why not?" Uncle Edward said as he sat down beside my father.

"Someone is far too eager to marry," Lily teased, "Hunh?" She brushed up against my shoulder, causing me to jump.

Aldrich turned on his heels and moved towards the table, avoiding everyone and everything. For him, he is centre of the world, nothing else matters. 

"Where are you going without the girl?" His father intervened.

He turned back, his lips pressed into a thin line, implying that his tolerance level was dwindling.

"Could I?"

For the sake of formality, he extended his hand to me, and I placed mine over his. He guided the way by placing his thumb on the back of my palm. His hands were surprisingly hard but smooth.

We came to a halt when we reached the aisle. Before signing the papers, we exchanged rings.

He first signed the papers and handed them to me. These are marriage registration papers for the people who are witnessing our wedding, but for us, they are a contract, nothing more than a one-year compromise.

Even though I didn't want to, the joy on my father's lips compelled me to sign the papers. And the sound of clapping filled the air.

He was about to walk down the aisle after finishing the formalities when Lily interrupted.

"Let's see a kiss from the newlywed couple," Lily exclaimed, leaping into her seat.

I locked my gaze on Lily, who was flashing me her pearly white teeth. I'm tempted to stab her right now. She is causing me more problems. I looked up to see Aldrich grimacing at the thought.

'Let me tell you, Mr. Aldrich Lionel, that I, too, am not dying to kiss you.' I wanted to say it out loud, but I decided to keep my mouth shut.

His lips parted to decline Lily's overjoyed wish, but his father cut in, "Yes, why not?"

He chuckled and tilted his head towards my father, whose eyes were fixed on me and who was constantly beaming with delight.

Oh, father!

Our fathers were both looking forward to a chaste kiss. Even though we didn't want to, there was nothing we could do but fulfill our father's wish.

As he turned to face me, I heard a groan escape from the back of his throat.

My breath became short on its own, a knot formed in my stomach, my heart began to race, and my body stiffened as he took one intimidating step towards me, his gaze fixed on my face. As he approached, his cologne filled my senses and temporarily hypnotized me.

Without taking his gaze away from mine, he wrapped his left arm around my waist and drew me in closer. My eyes blinked as my bust collided with his hard chest, but he stood there stiffly, pretending to be unaffected by the movement.

Lifting his right hand, he placed it behind my head and pushed his face forward. My head jerked backwards on its own. I'm extremely nervous because I'm about to have my first kiss.

He guided me backward into a dip with his body weight and his hand on my head, so that my back was bent on his arm and his head concealed our faces from the outside world.

He leaned in, his lips on the corner of my lips, and ate the space between our lips.

When his lips touched my skin, the world came to a halt; my heart sank into the pit of my stomach, and heat roused to my chest, while my eyes flutter closed on their own. Nothing but his soft lips against my skin could be felt.

By the way, his chest vibrated from an inaudible moan, indicating that I am not the only one affected by this proximity!

As he realized his lips had lasted longer than necessary, he moved back a little, but his face was still too close for my eyes to focus on anything other than his deep brown eyes, which were blessed with thick eyelashes.

His lips were only on my skin for a few seconds, but the touch of his lips lingered there, giving me a tingling sensation.

As he mumbled against my lips, his breath fanned my face. "Remember, one year...no strings attached!"

"One year... With no strings attached," my lips repeated after him, despite my brain's inference of the words.