A Bond by Marriage

Chapter 7

Dino’s POV-

Vito walked over to me smirking. He had just left Gia with Riccardo and his suit coat after his dance with her. This was one of the rare moments when Vito cared about a woman without the motive to bed them. I knew it was care because he wouldn’t dare think about my wife for any other reason. I hoped that would help Gia get more comfortable among us because this was what she would have to live with her entire life. Fearing us all the time would only make it harder for her to fit in.

“Your wife is fragile,” Vito said as I observed my wife. She was dancing with Riccardo but she looked just as uptight. I didn’t think she wanted to continue dancing anymore. “How long before this is wrapped up?” He asked and summoned a female server for a drink. “I feel hungry for some dessert,” he said, making her blush, and I focused back on Gia.

“So, what are you gonna do about the intrusion today? Don’t tell me another meet and greet.”

“No. We are past that. Pavel doesn’t want peace and we won’t propose it anymore.”

“So? Can I start planning an attack?”

“No,” I turned to him. I needed to make this clear. “No attacks, Vito. It would only enrage Pavel. We need to hit where it’ll hurt him the most. Something he won’t ever be able to recover from. Or we must do something that will end this. But no meaningless attacks from our side. That would only fuel the fire of war.”

“The war seems inevitable to me,” he scoffed.

“It may be, but we won’t start a fight unless victory is our only outcome,” I said and turned back to Gia. The sight unsettled me. She wasn’t dancing anymore. She had her hands bunched together and pressed to her chest while Riccardo held her by her shoulders. They seemed to be talking and perhaps he was comforting her, but it was clearly not working.

Riccardo smiled, noticing my approach, but Gia didn’t even look at me. “Is something wrong?”

“She is just nervous. I was telling her not to be, but…” I nodded, understanding well. I had married Gia to escape the virgin coyness, but she seemed worse than them.

“I’ll attend to my wife now,” I said, dismissing Riccardo. I pulled her to me and walked away from the crowd. She had danced with me, Vito, and her brother. That was enough.

“Vito, tell Umberto that we are done. The party can continue.”

“Oh, eager, are we?” He laughed, walking away.

“Thank you,” Gia whispered, and I noticed our height difference. More so now that she seemed to be engulfed in Vito’s coat. He had noticed her discomfort as well. I just didn’t understand why she’d wear something she wasn’t comfortable in. Her discomfort wasn't from wearing something uncomfortable, but rather from wearing something she hated.

“Your brother is a good man,” she said, looking across the room where Umberto was announcing our departure beside Vito.

“Don’t say it in front of anyone else. They won’t believe it and if they did, Vito wouldn’t be happy.” The confusion on her face was clear, but the crowd had already started clapping and no matter how much they already disliked Gia, nothing stopped them from embarrassing her further.

“Bed her! Bed her!” They chanted and followed us as we departed from the hall. Vito stuck to my side, hollering the loudest among them all.

“Now, she might be experienced, but don’t f**k her against the wall. Be gentle on your first night.” Vito said, draping his arm around my shoulder, and Gia lost her grip on my hand.

“Vito.” He took the signal and dismissed everybody in the hallway. Knowing he wouldn’t stop with his remarks, I opened the door and ushered Gia inside quickly.

“Oh, okay, alright,” Vito said playfully, but I was already closing the door. “Remember, no breaking beds!” There, he said it. As I locked the door, I heard him laugh, but turning around, I saw my new wife looking at me and fumbling with the coat’s sleeves.

When I turned around after locking the door, Gia was already looking at me. That was putting it mildly though because she was on alert, her eyes wide, observant and searching. I had hoped she would feel more at ease in her own room, but she was even more fidgety than earlier now. It was safe to assume the reason was Vito and his profane remarks earlier. Perhaps I had it all wrong. Perhaps the constant condemnation and criticism had caught up and she wasn’t the woman I thought she was.

I took my coat off and moved to the couch across from her while she just stood in the centre. Her stance was similar to my guards waiting for their orders. It seemed this was going to be hard and the exact opposite of what I had been expecting. Discarding my vest and tie, I closed the distance between us. Her fumbling stopped and shoulders huddled as I removed Vito’s coat off of her and held her chin. It was important to have her eyes on me at all times. She was easy to read and I needed to know what she was thinking. More so now.

I held her face softly with both my hands. Her skin was soft and without giving it a thought, I kissed her. No reaction. I further prodded my tongue, inducing her to part her lips. Her lips parted and I sucked on her lips rubbing my thumbs along her cheeks. I nudged her with my nose but there was no reaction. Finally I stepped back and she looked just as beautiful and just as frozen. “You are trembling,” I said, and she shook her head urgently and stepped back. I could see her eyes misting and with hasty movements, she unexpectedly freed both her arms and tucked the sleeves under, holding the dress against her chest.

“I’m alright, I’m alright,” she chanted and I shook my head. This was definitely worse. Her face was getting paler by each moment. I saw the resolve in her eyes as she started lowering the dress before I had to stop her.

“You are shaking,” I said, shaking my head but she only tried to tug her dress lower.

“No, I’m not. I’m alright—”

“You are not alright,” I said before stepping back. “You are scared. And I can’t have s*x with you if you are scared of me.”

“No, we need to consummate the wedding.” She shook her head.

“No. Go to bed, you need the rest. Freshen up if you want, but go to bed.”

“Did I do something wrong?” She whispered.

“No, you didn’t. You look very tempting but we cannot go ahead with anything unless you have come to terms with this marriage.” She looked hurt and a bit baffled and f**k I wanted to know what she was thinking.

“I’m going out on the balcony. I'll be back in fifteen minutes.” I said before she could insist on going further. Her desperation was clear and so was her fear. I walked to the balcony, giving her the necessary space. I hated myself for feeling like this but I’d be lying if I said she wasn’t stressing me out. This marriage was supposed to be easy and it was proving to be anything but. I chose her because she was experienced and I could avoid the pleasantries. Not to mention I’d feel less of a creep sleeping with someone seven years younger instead of thirteen.

My married life was one thing that was supposed to be effortless with no troubles– a duty fulfilled so I could focus on things that mattered. Gia was supposed to feel easy but— I sighed. She was my responsibility now. I couldn’t– wouldn’t turn my back on her. We’d move past whatever this is and live how I intended. A couple of years before we’d have a kid or two and I’ll have a new purpose in life. It will all be as I had intended.