Chapter 5: Married

This morning, I was Imela August Barau, and now I am Imela August Plane.

Imela August Plane.

The name echoed in my head as we returned from the chapel in a ride Oliver had booked.

My world has changed in only a day, and yet it wasn't a dream; it was all reality, a reality I was a part of. A reality I had a hand in making. It was a perfect reality—one I wouldn't change for anything else.

I loved him, and he loved me, and together, we will face the world that stands in our way.

He was brave and strong, and I will learn about courage and what it means to stand tall against a world that challenges our existence.

I felt a pair of warm fingers entwining in mine, and I turned from the window where I had lost myself, carelessly staring out over to him.

"Hey, wife."

Wife. That term belongs to me now.

I was indeed his wife, and he was my husband, my lawfully wed husband. 

"Hey, husband," I played along.

"Where are we going?" I asked before adding, "Or you have not thought that far ahead yet?"

His mouth twitched to the side as if diving into deep thought. "Well, now that you have mentioned it, I haven't."

I laughed out loud and covered my mouth to hide the noise. "You know I love it when you laugh without care, and now I will see you laugh forever. What a blessing it will be."

I pressed my lips together, my cheeks burning at his words. I never liked my laugh; I felt it sounded weird, and I always wanted to cover it up with my hand to my mouth. He heard my laugh at a corny joke he told at the end of our first date, and he told me I had a lovely laugh. I told him he was joking, and he said it was the first time he had heard someone laugh without care, and he found it adorable.

"Where are we going?"

"I booked us a reservation at the Chevron hotel." He answered.

I couldn't ask him how he knew the nooks and crannies of Las Vegas because he told me how he and Seth started coming here after his seventeenth birthday.

Seth, who was twenty then, gambled a lot and took Oliver along because he was good with numbers. They were chased out of each casino but always found another. They never told their parents; Seth would have gotten into big trouble if they did, so they kept it a secret.

Oliver met many women during those times, but many of them only ever wanted his money because he looked rich. They were never interested in him, though, not really.

Their gambling continued until two years ago. Seth burnt out his college fund, which was how their parents discovered he had dropped out of business school.

Oliver continued coming to Las Vegas alone, but to meet up with women. He kept this up until a year ago when his parents found out and ended it.

At this point, he likely had a deep understanding of this state.

"A hotel." I echoed his last words.

"Yes," he said, smiling at me. "It's a five-star hotel. It's perfect for our honeymoon."

Knowing what that meant sent chills running through me. We will become man and wife and do the things married people do.

"You don't look thrilled, I see," he pointed out.

"Just thinking." I played it off with a smile.

"About the night ahead?" he asked with a brow of interest.

"Yes," I answered, biting down on my lip slowly.

I have never done anything intimate with anyone; Oliver was my first everything. In high school, while everyone had their eyes set on the cutest boy in class or who to date, I had mine buried in my books, and it paid off because here I am. It robbed me of many firsts, and I thought I would regret it, but having Oliver be my first kiss and first boyfriend made it worth it.

We have never done anything intimate as a couple. We have only kissed, hugged, and held hands. I would not have stopped him if he had tried, but he hadn't in the last three months. He told me that when the time was right, we would both know.

It felt right now, but I was afraid, even terrified.

I love him and want to be perfect for him, just as he has been perfect for me.

He deserves that.

"It will be amazing." He said and brought my hand up to his lips to place a kiss there.

"How do you know?" I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me.

He smiled, and the sides of his eyes wrinkled up. "Because I know you, and you have been perfect so far." He reached out and nipped my chin. "Do not bother yourself, okay?"

I believed him.

We arrived at the hotel, and Oliver led us inside. I didn't get to gaze at the magnificent structure, but it screamed luxury, one I would never have been able to afford if Oliver wasn't with me. I felt out of place, but I clung to him, knowing he was my place, my perfect husband.

He spoke with the receptionist about the reservation he had made, and after confirming it, the receptionist gave him the key and motioned to the attendant standing by to show us to our room.

We followed, and when we came to room 350, Oliver and the attendant stopped moving.

"Will you be needing any services this night, sir?" The younger man asked.

"I will ring if I need any," Oliver answered, and the attendant nodded and took his leave.

Oliver opened the door to us, and we entered the room together. I held my breath at the beauty and perfection that greeted me.

I held my breath. "We will be staying here."

"You don't like it?" he asked.

"I love it; it's so beautiful." I gushed, and what I love about Oliver is that he doesn't laugh or make fun of me when I enter this phase.

I moved to the bed and threw myself on it face-first. I moved my hands around and around like a little child thrown into the water.

"It is alright, but you are beautiful." I heard Oliver say it from behind. I turned around to give him a weird eye.

"You look fucking sexy when you give me that eye; do you know that?" he asked.

"Really? And what are you going to do about it?" I asked.

Desire flickered in his eyes, and his gaze dropped to my lips.

The first thing I knew about sex was what I learnt from sex education class, and Mrs Anne Idah spent more time trying to steer us clear of the act than informing us of what exactly it was about. To stay informed, I educated myself by reading textbooks. It talked about how the body would feel when it desired sex, and I feel that way now.

Oliver stepped closer to me, and my breath hitched. He got to where I was, and our legs touched. I gasped at the contact, even though we were fully clothed. He lowered himself and got on top of me.

"There are many things I want to do about it," he said when he came up to my face, and his breath brushed over it.

I forgot to breathe or to remember anything else because my complete focus was now on this beautiful man with blue eyes filled with desire for me.

I wanted this man-I wanted him to do what he wanted to me. I wanted him to do things even I didn't know existed; that was how much I trusted him.

"Like what?" My curiosity was getting the better of me at this point.

He thought for a while and bit his lower lip. "Like making you my obedient little girl."

"I am not a little girl." I wanted to sound tough, but the closeness or my slowly growing desire for him took the toughness from me, and I sounded like a seductress instead.

"Oof," he smirked down at me. "You are not helping yourself, sweetheart, and I am here for it," he said, and his lips claimed mine for a passionate kiss.