**Back to the present**
‘I can’t wait for tonight to arrive…’
I had no idea why Anthony decided to say something like that to me. The playful and extremely flirtatious smile that he showed me made my heart skip a dangerous beat and for a moment I didn’t quite know how to react. I wasn’t sure if the Anthony that I knew would say something like that. Then again, it wasn’t like he was in a position to say something so playful and suggestive to me while he was my sister’s fiancé. Just like me, he probably never thought that he would end up marrying me instead of my sister.
“Diana dear! Congratulations on your wedding. You have no idea just how long we’ve been waiting for this day to come. You look stunning! This dress looks perfect on you. You couldn’t have chosen a better dress,” a middle-aged woman with light blonde hair said while smilingly widely at me.
“Thank you very much for your kind words. I hope you enjoy the party at the reception later on,” I replied smoothly.
It felt like a switch had turned on the moment that the guests started to approach us to congratulate us on our wedding. That switch that flipped inside of my head told me that I was now the perfect Diana that everyone adored and looked up to and no longer myself. The wedding dress indeed fit me perfectly and it did its job of showcasing my body to the utmost advantage; however, I wasn’t the one who chose that wedding dress. It was chosen by none other than my sister along with the makeup style, the hair updo, and the jewelry and shoes that completed the ensemble.
“You’re so lucky to marry a bride like her. Make sure that you take care of Diana well,” the lady’s husband quickly chimed in before winking at Anthony.
“Of course, I will…” Anthony replied before reaching out to shake the gentleman’s hand firmly.
We shared countless similar brief greetings and thanks with the many guests that came to greet us. In all honesty, I had no idea who the majority of the people were apart from the fact that they were undoubtedly some important, influential, or simply rich figures in high society. Glancing over to the side, I could see my parents smiling and laughing happily and they entertained their guests. They seemed to be having the time of their lives and that made me feel slightly nauseous.
“Diana…” Anthony called out to me warmly to get my attention.
“Yes?” I replied sweetly.
His much larger hand covered mine before tugging my hand tighter into the crook of his arm. I couldn’t stop staring into his deep blue eyes as he smiled down at me alluringly. At the same time, I could hear the loud beating of my heart ringing in my eyes as he pulled me closer to his side.
“I guess you’re not enjoying yourself. Talking to so many strangers about the same thing over and over can be very boring, right?” he said before smiling knowingly.
“I guess, but I’m sure that we can make it through this together,” I replied honestly.
Just standing by his side with my hand in his and our bodies close to each other felt like the best of dreams. Everything passed by in a blur during our reception at the church after our ceremony. The evening reception was pretty much a repeat of the reception during noon time but with a few additional efforts from Anthony and me to impress the audience.
“And now the moment that all of us have been waiting for! The bride and groom will now share their first dance. Please give them a round of applause,” the host for the night announced loudly through the microphone.
I don’t remember the last time that I danced with a partner. It must have been years ago before I moved out of the country. The moment that I dreaded the most had arrived and now I had to dance with Anthony. I cursed my parents for not letting us meet even once before our wedding. Of course, if we had met, practicing our wedding dance together wouldn’t be at the top of my list of things to do.
“Don’t look so nervous even if you feel nervous,” he advised me with a caring smile.
Anthony probably had no idea just how much his reassuring smile gave me confidence. Our dance wasn’t something complex because it was just a standard dance. I nodded my head and returned his smile as he bowed and extended his hand toward me.
“May I have this dance?” he asked.
“Yes…” I replied as I slipped my hand into his manly one.
Anthony looked positively like an unbelievably handsome prince in the white tuxedo that he had on. His blond hair, his blue eyes, and the way he moved so flawlessly to the band’s music as he led me throughout the dance truly made me feel like I was dancing with my own prince charming. I wasn’t certain if our dance looked perfect to our spectators, but I couldn’t have cared less because to me, it just felt like the most perfect moment of happiness that I wanted to cherish and remember for as long as I live.
Just as our dance was coming to an end, Anthony pulled me quite roughly against him. I let out a gasp of surprise while trying not to let my panic show. I was absolutely sure that that wasn’t part of the standard dance routine. Plus, the way that his arms around the small of my waist tightened as he pressed my body up hard against his felt so unnatural. We were so close that my breasts were practically pressed up against his hard chest. I looked up to find Anthony’s blue eyes staring down right into mine and my breath caught in my throat.
“Mhmm…” I made a moaning sound in my throat as his mouth gently captured mine.
–To be continued…
His kiss felt gentle and loving yet demanding at the same time. It felt sweet yet slightly aggressive and unlike any kiss that I had ever experienced before. It left me curious and also eager for more. His lips worked to seduce mine until I felt like my body would melt in his arms. My lips slowly parted to grant his seeking tongue entry into the wet depths of my mouth. Anthony let out a satisfied moan as he thrusted his tongue firmly between my parted lips and into my mouth.“Mhmm…” I heard myself moaning even louder this time as my eyes drifted closed.The way his tongue seduced mine in a fervent dance of passion told me just how experienced and skilled he was. I had thought so since the first time that we kissed that he was such a good kisser, and he was probably the best that I have ever had. Although I knew that countless pairs of eyes were watching us, I couldn’t stop myself from kissing him back hungrily. My mind felt intoxicated with the pleasure of his kiss and thoughts of him
Since we are now married, it was only natural that I would be moving in to live with Anthony at his family estate. I recalled the large white mansion with a large French-style garden out front from my numerous visits there during childhood after the engagement between Anthony and my sister had been decided. Although the mansion that belonged to my family was already overly large, the Vulkan family estate where Anthony lived was much larger. I smiled a little to myself when I thought of the many encounters that we shared when we were younger whenever I had the chance to visit his home.After waiting for too long, Anthony and I were finally on our way back to what would be my new home. After leaving my mother and making my way back to Anthony’s side, he welcomed me back warmly before leading me to a large black limousine that would take us back to his place.“I still can’t believe that father invited that many people to our wedding,” Anthony commented with a hint of complaint before he
I automatically looped an arm around his neck as I pressed my body against his. Our tongues ground against each other as we both desired to feel closer and more connected. His hand moved to cup my shoulders before sliding down to caress my upper arm. I moaned softly into our kiss before he began sucking on my tongue teasingly. The jolts of pleasure that flooded my body and made my core clench with desire also made my body feel weak. Therefore, I was thankful when Anthony’s hand caressed its way all the way down my arm to my wrist before he took the champagne glass that I was still holding from me. It was a small miracle that I hadn’t spilled any champagne by that time given how busy we were with each other. I heard a small clinking sound when Anthony placed my glass down on the table.“Ahh…” I moaned before letting out a long sigh of pleasure when Anthony finally broke our kiss.I was panting hard as I stared back at him with almost teary eyes. He was such a good kisser, not that I di
“Anthony…Ahhh…” I called his name.Before I could protest against anything, his face was between my breasts. I felt the hot heat of his breath against my sensitive skin for a brief moment before the hot wet heat of his mouth engulfed one of my nipples and made me cry out. It felt like his heat was being transferred to my body as he flicked his tongue skillfully against my erect nipple. His hand moved to massage my other breasts to feed me even more pleasure. I felt like I was about to lose my mind completely as I ran my fingers through his blond hair. His hair felt like fine silk against my fingers but it didn’t take long for me to be clutching at his hair as my passion took over me.“Just as I thought, you love this as well. Your body is amazingly sensitive,” he commented when he released my nipple from his mouth.“Anthony…please…” I begged although I wasn’t sure if I wanted him to stop or to give me more.Anthony made the decision for me when his tongue lapped at my other nipple be
I thought that this was all his fault when he began sucking hard on my nipple. The pleasure that invaded my senses made me throw my head back before crying out his name. I thought that Anthony would keep on playing with my breasts, but it soon became clear that he had something else in mind for me. Without any warning, he removed his mouth from my nipple before reaching for my shoulders. Suddenly, he turned me around and I found myself facing the wall before my body was pressed up against it. “Anthony…” I whispered his name in surprise. “Let me taste you…” he whispered close behind my ear.His warm breath softly caressed my earlobe before I felt the wetness of his tongue licking me there. My entire body shuddered from the waves of pleasure that invaded my body as Anthony flicked the tip of his tongue against my earlobe. His large manly hands held my arm and my waist to hold my body in place. It tickled a little, but it felt so pleasurable. “Ahh...Ahhh…” I moaned breathlessly as he
I quickly did as I was told. I repositioned my feet so that my thighs would spread apart even further to grant his hand access to my most womanly place. The pleasurable ache in my lower abdomen intensified while my pussy clenched in anticipation of his touch. Anothony stroked the outer lips of my pussy through my soaked panties before pushing hard up against my opening.“Ahh…Anthony…” I moaned before closing my eyes in bliss.I heard a low chuckle from behind me and knew very well that he was enjoying my reactions to his playful caresses. If his teasing lasted any longer, I was sure that I would beg him to touch me there directly. Thankfully, I felt his fingers pulling the fabric covering my wet hole to the side before his fingers delved slightly into the hot wet mess between my legs.“Ahh! Yes…Ahhh!” I cried out as my hips shook when his fingers finally stroked my wet and throbbing slit. He was finally touching my pussy and it felt amazing. His fingers skillfully stroked up and dow
I hoped that he didn’t mind how loud I was being. Although I tried desperately to control myself, it seemed impossible in the face of all the overwhelming feelings of pleasure that he was making me go through. It was true that my body and mind couldn’t take anymore. With each thrust, I felt like I was ready to orgasm. My pussy twitched uncontrollably, and I could feel my climax fast approaching.He’s going to make me cum from his fingers…“Go ahead and cum, Dahlia. You can scream as loud as you want,” he whispered to me encouragingly.I always knew that Anthony was such a kindhearted man and even while he was pleasuring my body, he made sure that I experienced pleasure. He was such a generous lover who placed my needs first before his own. As if the bliss that he gave me didn’t feel like it was sufficient to him, his other hand reached in front of my waist before dipping down between my legs.“Ahh! Anthony! I’m…Ahhh…” I cried out his name.His fingers reached my swollen and sensitive
Anthony smiled at me, and I could tell that he was pleased with my cooperation. I felt so impatient as Anthony pulled the many layers of fabric down my legs. The dress was truly in the way and Diana was to blame for choosing such an elaborate dress. Then again, I couldn’t imagine my sister getting married in anything that looked any less eye-catching and elegant.I was almost completely naked save for the very thin panties that I still had on. The way Anthony’s eyes rove over my body as he took in the sight of my naked form made me so conscious of my nudity that I wanted to hide away. The heat burning in his gaze made my body feel hotter and more sensitive. Instinctively, my hands flew to cover my breasts as I turned my head to look away in embarrassment. I had no idea why I felt like that when it was far from my first time lying in bed naked under a man’s passionate gaze.“Don’t cover yourself. Let me see you, Dahlia…” he urged before letting out a small laugh.I felt the mattress of
My heartbeat thundered in my ears as I approached them. The three of them were engaged in such an intense conversation that, at first, they did not recognize my presence. Diana's voice was the first that came to me. Her voice was shaky, as if she was barely holding herself together."The doctor said that there's no change in his condition. Anthony is still unresponsive, although it's been months, and this whole thing with the snipers is only making it worse..." Diana said.I came to a stop as my mind struggled to process her words. My heartbeat grew even faster in my chest, and for a moment I thought that perhaps I had misheard my own sister. What did she mean when she said that Anthony is still unresponsive?Diana already knew that Bradon had taken Anthony's place, and that meant that the man who was shot was none other than Bradon. Yet how was it possible that Anthony was the one who was unresponsive? Nothing made sense to me at that moment. It felt like I was missing a very key pie
It hurt me more than anything to realize that I couldn't blame him, even if he did that, because I was the one who betrayed him first. I left him without a word or farewell, running away from him as if he were the one who had done something wrong. Memories of our time together came back like waves. The fake honeymoon that we enjoyed together felt more real than anything, right at that moment. I remembered the way that he would laugh whenever he let his guard down on the nights when we enjoyed each other's company simply as our true selves, and the dangerous world outside and our identities didn't need to complicate things for us.There was a time when I thought that love was enough, but a small voice inside of me reminded me not to be so foolish. As time slipped by, I found myself praying that the door would just swing open and that Bradon would be standing there with his arms wide open. I wanted nothing more than to be held in his arms once again. I had to admit to myself that, with
"Where is this?" I asked without hiding my suspicion. I knew very well where the Vulkan mansion was located and also what it looked like, and the place that we had just parked in front of couldn't look more different than the mansion that I remembered."You didn't think that we would take you to our home, did you?" Mrs. Vulkan snapped before looking away with a clear look of disgust on her face."I guess your home would be the first place that Bradon would look when he finds me missing," I replied dismissively."No more chit chat," Bradon's father said as he urged me out of the car.I told myself that it did make sense that they would find a place for me to stay, but did it have to be such a shabby-looking place? The isolated low-rise building looked like it could use a round of maintenance. The room that they led me to was simple, with a single bed, a television, a desk, and absolutely no windows."How long am I supposed to stay here? I thought we made an agreement that you would h
"Why would my son want to keep you here?" Mr. Vulkan asked as his eyes seemed to search my face for the answer that he was looking for. "How am I supposed to know? Maybe he hasn't had enough of me yet..." I replied before showing them a fake yet extremely sweet smile. "Even if he isn't considered a normal member of our family, I still can't have you associating with him," he continued on as if he was lecturing me of my lack of worth. "I just told you that I'm not the one begging to stay here and with him," I replied coldly. I had hoped that by then it had become plain obvious what I wanted the two of them to do for me. With their help, I was certain that they could find a way to get me out of Bradon's mansion. Bradon wasn't around, so the next in command was Zain, whom I did not think could directly stand up against the head of the Vulkan family. At least, that was where I decided to place my bets at that point in time. "So you want to leave but he won't let you? Is that what you
I quickly followed them inside, sensing that the two of them were here looking for trouble. One glance at Zain, and I could tell that he was already informing Bradon of their unexpected arrival. It wasn't like Zain could throw out Bradon's father and stepmother, so I could understand the pitiful position that he suddenly found himself in. I straightened my back and followed them further inside, thinking to myself that I needed to hold the fort until Bradon returned. Whatever it was that they wanted, I needed to make sure to find out.The two of them sat comfortably on the sofa as if they were in their own house by the time I made it to the living room. The fact that neither of us spoke a single word as I sat down on the sofa only made the tension in the room skyrocket."I'm sure that Bradon will be back soon," I said, more to tell myself than to tell them."Why are you still here?" Mr. Vulkan asked as he turned his cold gaze in my direction.The way that he looked at me left no room f
**A few days later**"How many times do I have to tell you? You can't keep me locked up in here!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, my hands clenching into tight fists. I could feel the blood rushing to my face as anger and frustration took over.Over the past few days, I had already lost count of the number of times Bradon and I had had this argument. For some reason that I could not comprehend, my life as a prisoner inside his household had resumed. There must have been a change in Bradon that I couldn't fully understand-something that had led him to decide to keep me under house arrest. Going out was no longer an option, even if I was escorted."You may leave when I tell you that you can," Bradon replied with the same infuriatingly calm response he always gave, his tone ticking me off even more."Listen, I'm not doing this because I want to be selfish. If there's a reason why you can't let me go outside, then please just let me know, and I'll try to be understanding," I said, taking
"I'll try not to come back late," Bradon replied without any further explanations. I only managed to simply nod my head before he was already out of the living room. The look that Bradon gave me told me to hold my tongue and not ask him any questions. I knew very well that asking him anything would be useless because he most likely wouldn't give me any kind of answer. As I stared at the doorway, my mind became even more unsettled than before. Something was definitely going on and Bradon was keeping it away from me. "Probably just work..." I mumbled to myself. It wasn't unusual for Bradon not to tell me much about matters related to his work, and I never minded. A sigh escaped my lips when I realized that I had officially failed once again. The worst part was that I felt very relieved at the very same time. Bradon's parting words, telling me that he would hurry back home gave me something to look forward to and that made me realize just how much I yearned to be with him. "Stop it,
I needed to leave him and as soon as possible, but I didn't know how I could achieve that. My past experiences have taught me quite directly that I couldn't truly run away from Bradon. Escaping from the mansion was unquestionably impossible. I could not run away, so that meant that I needed to get Bradon to agree to let me leave. My legs already felt weak, and I wanted nothing more than to crawl into bed and shut my eyes to escape reality. I knew that I needed to talk to Bradon about ending our fake marriage as soon as possible, although I had no idea how to bring up the topic. Something told me that it might prove to be difficult to get Bradon to agree, and there was always a risk that he might react unpredictably.However, if everything he did was simply him just acting out his role and his feelings for me didn't truly exist, then that might be the solution to all of my problems. If he felt no attachment to me, then he should have no problem letting me go just as planned. After all
The party ended early, yet it was quite eventful, at least for Bradon and myself. I felt like there was a storm raging inside of me all the while that we rode back to his mansion. It felt like there was something right at the tip of my tongue that I wanted to say, but yet I couldn't bring myself to say it. There were times when I thought that I fully understood myself and what I wanted, and yet at the very same time, I felt so confused and lost. The feelings that were struggling to take dominance inside of me did not make sense, and it made me feel as if my thoughts and my feelings were heading in the direct opposite direction of one another.Bradon's words of defiance as he confronted my father came back to me loud and clear:"Dahlia is not your daughter anymore, and neither am I one of the Vulkans. I will never let you take my wife..."I should have known that entering into this contract marriage with Bradon, while taking my sister's place, would somehow lead to blurring the line be