The New Husband

Even in her excitement, Wyoming felt that she had to put in her best performance to match the exorbitant rate they were paying her. 

She pep-talked herself into doing a great job to impress the Ellishes. She does not want them to think that they made a mistake in choosing her for this role.

She was hyped. 

She had to slay this role and hoped to carve a name for herself in this industry. She has to prove to everyone that she can make it big this time with the right people backing her up - meaning Ellish Film Productions Limited.  

She started walking down the aisle and felt it odd that the production team chose another nameless, unpopular actor to play her groom. She also noticed a red flag in all these - the presence of Ellish Film Productions stalwarts Marcus and Alicia Ellish.

“We are gathered here today to witness the joining of Cayden Ellish and Wyoming Wilson in holy matrimony.”

That made her stop. 

The wedding celebrant used her real name.

She also remembered her groom’s name as Cayden Ellish. If she was not mistaken, Cayden Ellish was the name of the eldest among the three sons of Marcus and Alicia Ellish and the new Chief Executive Officer of Ellish Film Productions Limited.  

Suddenly, something inside her brain clicked in. The amount of money they were paying her was not commensurate with the role she was going to play. Now, she had an idea why. 

The color drained her face as realization dawned. 

“Is this a real wedding?” Wyoming hissed at the man standing stiffly beside her. 

She could tell that he was also averse to the wedding from the rigidity of his stance, but why is he not resisting? Why is he going along with this pretentious wedding?

This is a real wedding, right?

A real wedding.

A real marriage.

To a stranger?

No, not a total stranger. Her groom is Cayden Ellish. 

Cayden Ellish, her mind shouted!

She did not recognize him right away because he only had a few photos in circulation. And those few constitute his graduation pics from an Ivy League School.

Wyoming must say that his internet photos did not do him justice. From good looks alone, Cayden Ellish could give any actor a run for his money. Plus, he seemed low-key as she believes all the Ellishes are. She was trying to remember if she saw any photos of his two younger siblings in circulation and could not recall anything. 

Although she seemed to recall reading recently in the entertainment section of the news that Cayden Ellish just got back from running their business abroad. He was done with his training and set to take over the helm of the Ellish Film Productions Limited, one of the biggest film production companies in the country. 

‘Gosh, what had she gotten herself into.’ Wyoming thought in panic. 

She wanted to bolt out and ran away, but something prevented her from galvanizing into action as a muscled arm encircled her waist to clamp her to his side. 

“You signed the contract, remember?” The man who seemingly knew what was running on her mind at that moment reminded her in an icy-cold voice. 

She struggled but he persisted. 

He applied more pressure on his arm, pressing harder to clip her to his side. 

Wyoming heard murmurs of satisfaction from the crowd.

To everyone, the intimate action looked like the man was so eager for physical contact with her - that he could not seem to get his hands off of her and her struggles are coy responses - typical of a young virginal bride. 

But Wyoming knew better. 

He was trying to stop her from running away. 

She was about to open her lips when her groom very confidently interrupted their celebrant. And before she guessed what he was about to do, he already managed to take her veil off and proceeded to kiss her full on the lips while he held her body trapped between two muscular arms. 

Shocked, Wyoming was stunned into silence.  

She felt his soft lips graze her lips and was momentarily taken aback by its softness. When she did not respond, the man bit her lip lightly, earning a gasp from her and everyone around them.

Exhaling a sharp breath, Wyoming accidentally smelled his minty breath. 

The sensation of his lips working its magic on hers had her forgetting everything around her.

At first, she was too stunned to react. A moment later, he deepened the kiss, and she felt her body softening. Another second later, and she was already responding to the kiss!

She was swayed. 

She was so turned on. 

She never felt herself becoming a very eager participant to a kiss - and from a stranger no less! It was very unlike her.  

But she could not help herself.  

Her groom kisses her so well.  

There is a magic to his kiss, capturing her to submission. 

Only one man kissed her before this and tried hard as she might, not to compare, she could not help herself. Jeremy’s kisses were so unlike the ones this man was giving her. He gives as much as he takes, and he was taking her breath away. 

Wyoming failed to notice the loud buzzing in her head except for the heady taste of his kiss. 

He licked her lips and nibbled them one last time before he released her.

Shocked, Wyoming stared into his eyes, lost. 

“Ehem!” The priest interrupted the sudden silence that enveloped them.

Her groom managed to appear contrite when he addressed the man that would solemnize their wedding. 

“Forgive my bride’s beauty, Father. It left me overwhelmed.” Everyone laughed, dispelling the tense atmosphere. 

“We all know that Mr. Ellish. But if you want to have her for yourself, let me finish this ceremony.” The priest reprimanded him, while the roaring crowd started to take on a more serious countenance so the ceremony could continue. 

While everyone was busy with the priest, Cayden Ellish, her groom, grabbed this opportunity to whisper in her ear.  

“You can not back out now. You already signed the contract, and the money has been deposited into your account.”  

The reminder froze her on the spot. She groaned inwardly, mentally knocking her head in frustration. 

Yes, it is true what they say. Regret comes later.  

Wyoming regretted that she did not bother to read the contents of the documents that Miss Thea handed her before affixing her signature on them. 

But there is still hope for her.  

“The money’s still intact. I can return it to you right now. “ She whispered back in a hurry before taking the small bride pouch with its string hanging on her wrist to take her phone out to return the money. 

This time, Cayden Ellish’s face became harder. “Didn’t you read the contract before you signed them?” 

When he was sure that he had her full attention, he continued. “Backing out on the agreement would mean that you have to pay me back triple the amount I paid you.”

“Mr. Ellish, do you still want me to continue?” The priest’s hard voice rang out loud, scolding Cayden and her for their inattention.

It was the least of Wyoming’s concerns. What bothers her more is the fact that she could not break out of this farce. 

Cayden’s words left Wyoming cold. 

Her hands that were moving quickly to open the pouch abruptly stopped. 

Where on earth will she find the money to pay him? The amount is enough to bury her in debt.  

Wyoming’s anxious eyes flew to him. 

Seeing his face, Wyoming had this distinct sinking feeling in her stomach that he was not joking. 

This is a real deal!

The moment Cayden realized that his words fully sank in and her brain was able to process them, a victorious smile played on his lips. 

Wyoming very much wanted to wipe that smile off his face, but she knows when she is cornered. There is no escape for her now. 

In frustration, she took his arm, pretending to caress it until her fingers reached the back of his hand. 

His body tensed. 

Then without warning, she pinched the exposed skin with her nails. She dug deep until she heard someone yelp in pain. 

Satisfied at the sound, Wyoming pasted a fake smile on her face and faced the priest, all the while, very conscious of the bristling man beside her.

The priest again stopped to reward them with a stern look. He was seriously trying hard to control his temper for this pesky couple. 

“Sorry, father. You may proceed with the ceremony.” Wyoming managed in her most saccharine voice she could muster, ignoring the dagger looks Cayden Ellish shoots her way. 

She was smiling to herself, relishing her mini-triumph, though she knew that this moment would not last. 

The ceremony continued after that without further interruptions, much to the officiant’s relief. 

___

After the ceremony, Cayden did not bother to stop and greet friends and families when they approached them. 

Instead, he clamped a hand to Wyoming’s wrist and walked briskly away while everyone looked on with indulgent smiles on their faces. 

They all thought that Cayden could not wait to be alone with his bride. 

Wyoming sighed. Now’s retribution time for Cayden. 

She let him drag her to the back of the car, where a bridal car waited. 

A uniformed chauffeur opened the door for them. 

Wyoming’s groom deposited her inside without letting her wrist go. 

Away from prying eyes, Wyoming’s heart skipped a beat.  

She watched as Cayden pressed a button when the door closed on them, separating the back part of the car from the driver. Then he pressed another button and she heard the doors of the car click shut.

She felt trapped. 

“What are you going to do to me?” She asked in suspicion, noting the menacing look that Cayen shot her way. 

Fear started to crawl her skin. Her eyes started to wander, trying to look for a way to escape the impenetrable presence of Cayden Ellish. 

But Cayden ignored her. He scooped her up and deposited her on his lap with her legs spread on both sides of him.

The indignity of her position notwithstanding, Wyoming pulled back, looking scared for a moment.  

“Let me go!” She shouted. 

To Cayden, she looked like a trapped mouse and it amused him to no end that he could inspire fear in her, yet she hid it carefully in well-veiled indignation.

“Not yet.” He muttered. 

“Not until you learn your lesson.” He added darkly. 

He flipped her over and whacked her in the bottom.  

“Ouch!” Wyoming tried to sit up and evade another wrack but Cayden was quick.  He brought her back to a sitting position, straddling him. 

Wyoming squirmed in an effort to get away from him, but they both stopped when something big and hard came between their connected body parts. 

“What is it?” She cried in alarm as the pain in her buttocks was forgotten. 

Cayden Ellish grunted as if in pain, but his hold on her did not waver.

“Stop wiggling!” He commanded in a stern voice. 

Wyoming looked at his red face. It was contorted as if in pain. She was shocked when she realized what was happening to him. 

He was aroused.  

Goodness! Wyoming thought. She was paralyzed in place, afraid to move lest any slight movement would make him pounce on her. 

She was looking at him, her eyes guarded and her body on alert.

But he did not do anything to her. Thank God!

Instead, he took deep calming breaths while he still held her wrists.  

After a while, the tension in his body subsided. 

Wyoming breathed a sigh when he released her and she slumped on his side. 

For a long time, they just stayed there without words passing between them. Only their labored breathing could be heard. 

When the tension left her body, Wyoming dared snuck a glance at Cayden and was surprised to see him looking strangely at her. 

“W-what is it?” She stammered as she tried to sit upright.

By this time, she was careful not to incite him. She could not take another ‘hulk’ moment from his lower body. It was downright embarrassing!

Cayden remained silent while his eyes made a careful inspection of his new wife’s red face. Seeing the blush that crept on her cheeks, he could not help commenting, 

“Stop testing my patience. We are married. You signed the contract and it is a done deal.” He added. 

What he said was true. 

They are married and she could not do anything about it. 

Wyoming looked at the cramped vehicle and noted that like her current predicament, she is trapped with no way to escape. 

“What have I gotten myself into?” She muttered under her breath.