We walked into an open passageway and turned the corner. I fought not to dig in my heels and skid to a stop. Hollis had presence and gravity, but I was tense at the sight I would see at the table. Mr Genovese sounded like a black hole. He was seated at the head of the long dining table and looked to be in his late fifties. His patterned dress shirt appeared tailored and expensive. His face was rugged, his eyebrows thick and dark, and his hair had a few streaks of silver near the temples. If this was an indication of what Hollis would look like in twenty years, he'd be handsome and distinguished when he was older. But there was a dark, frenetic energy radiating from the older Genovese man, and I could sense it clear across the dining room. A quiet rage boiled just below the surface of his skin. My mouth went totally dry and my throat closed up as Mr. Genovese's discerning gaze discovered me alongside his son. I remembered Hollis's words, 'try not to give a fuck.' I caught a gli

I stood in the room I share with Hollis, pacing the floor. Confusion streaming through my veins. We got back from his family home almost two hours ago and I had expected him inside the room with me. We needed to talk, to clear out the chaos choking at the edges. To arrive at an agreement, to define where we're headed at least. But he halted at the living room and had been there ever since with Maxine. I could hear their muffled voices from here. Initially I thought he just wanted to offer me the privacy of taking a shower and freshening up. Since that had been our routine since I moved into the room with him. So I quickly took a shower, changed into a lighter, simpler outfit and sat waiting for him. After what seemed like an eternity, I gave up and started heading to the sitting room. There was something about Hollis Genovese, he is kind, patient, tolerating, accommodating to me at least. And oh, he easily dominates any room he is in. Those were just the few things I could think of

Hollis never came back all through the night nor in the morning. Maxine was surprisingly around and came up to check up on me during breakfast. We ended up having a fierce session at the Dojo. A session that broadened into Kickboxing. I was super pissed and it showed in my moves, amusing Maxine as he already figured the reason for my sore mood. "Where does he go all the time? Why can't he tell me and why can't he take me along?" I grumbled. "You want to go?" That was Maxine. I nodded meekly, too curious to say no. "I'll show you, after the wedding." "Seriously, you'll take me there?" "No, I'll only show you. It's a club, one of his businesses that he's handling personally because it's new." He explained. "So how are you preparing for your wedding?" He giggled. ​I shot him a glare and he tumbled over with laughter. "That's literally the only way to convince ol' Genovese. If not, he would never believe. I just hope you understand." I shrugged. "Do I even have a choice? I'

I couldn't put a name to what I was feeling. The picture of my mother lying over my almost lifeless body years ago, kept replaying in my head as I watched Ugo and her mother. "My family is safe too, right?" Ugo asked, looking at me. "A hundred percent." I replied immediately. "I will slit your throat while you sleep if any harm comes to them." She told me, her voice was shaking, but it delivered the threat regardless and I liked that. "Any wife of mine will be protected and will want for nothing," I said, looking over at Ada Chike, "and so will her family. None of them will be harmed by anyone. Ugo is making the right decision, Mrs. Chike." I added, looking over at my supposed mother-in-law to be. "Ugo, you're sure about this? If no, you can stop it," Ada insisted as she looked at her daughter. "Mama," Ugo called, drawing her mother's attention. "I. am. fine. You have absolutely nothing to be worried about. And I will definitely pay you and Papa a visit. Right?" She asked,

Some people might see my method as crude and believe it's not how things work. But who cares. As I had anticipated, Ugo didn't appreciate the situation. But I was hopeful that in time she would learn to feel a connection toward me. And the physical and sensual part of the relationship I had once sort with her would begin. '​And what if she doesn't come around?' ​Well, I hope she would because I believe in the sanctity of marriage, in the vow you make to not only your partner but God, it meant I couldn’t fuck around anymore. And with the willful woman I have to live with, I had a feeling my balls were going to either be permanent blue or it would take a while before I would get any relief. But that's a choice I've decided to make. It is also why I’d gone ahead to let my ex-escort suck my dick last night before the wedding as it might be the last release I would get for a while that wouldn't be done by my own goddamn hands. The possessiveness in Ugo's tone rang in my head. I smi