Chapter4
1150 Words
The soft glow of twinkling lights and candles illuminated the beautiful garden. Ava, looking elegant in her white gown, stood beside Damien who looked dashing in his tailored tuxedo.
Before them, the officiating priest smiled warmly.
"Dearly beloved, we are gathered here tonight to witness the union of Damien Silver and Ava Smith in Holy Matrimony."
The priest continued. "Marriage is a sacred bond between two souls, built on love, trust, and commitment."
"Do you, Damien, take Ava to be your wife; to love and cherish her; through sickness and health; for rich or poor, till death do you part?"
"I do," answered Damien.
The priest turned to Ava.
"Do you, Ava, take Damien to be your husband; to love and cherish him; through sickness and health; for rich or poor; till death do you part?"
"I do," she answered, almost inaudibly.
"By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you Husband and Wife. You may kiss your bride." he said, but none of them made a move to do that.
The gathered family and relatives applauded as Damien and Ava turned to face them.
"Welcome to the family, I suppose." Isabel, Damien's kid sister, said with a forced smile, her eyes scrutinizing Ava's gown.
"I just hope you last longer than the others because...you're certainly different from the Damien's usual type," she said bitterly, cat walking away.
Ava's smile faltered, but Roland intervened.
"Pay no attention to her." he promise. "She gets that way sometimes but not to worry, you'll pretty much get used to her, so cheer up." he finished, not giving her a glimmer of hope.
"You're welcome to the Silver family." Roland said, feeling impressed.
"Excuse me." Damien said, already turning to leave.
"Ava, follow Damien immediately!" he instructed.
Ava nodded, relieved to escape the uncomfortable atmosphere.
With a deep breath, Ava followed Damien's path with a heavy heart.
Finally, they reached his room, and he pushed open the door.
"Enter." he said.
Ava stepped inside, her eyes adjusting to the dimly lit space. Damien closed the door behind her.
The room reeked of luxury. From the plush carpet to the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city.
"What's today?"he asked.
"Um, Saturday."
"We are starting our marital duties today, so get ready." He deadpanned.
Ava's heart skipped a beat.
Ava gaped at him like a fish caught on a line.
"Already?" she asked, and Damien nodded.
"According to our agreement, Saturday is one of our designated nights," Damien said coldly. "Besides, you were the one who made the choices, I didn't." He ended.
Ava took a deep breath. "Okay."
"Cut me some slacks here, Damien," she lamented. "I haven't even been able to fully digest this whole contract affair and now, you're expecting me to jump into your bed on the first night already?" She said.
"What are you saying now, Ava?" He asked, feeling so casual about the situation at hand.
Rotten bastard!
"You and I both read and accepted and agreed to the stipulations of the contract so why the cold feet all of a sudden?" He inquired.
"Remove your wedding gown. I'll be back soon." he said without waiting for a reply from her and entered into the bathroom, closing the door behind him.
The sound of the shower starting filled the room and she became nervous. Various images of scenes began to play in her mind eye of what might happen this night and it fills her with dread.
Immediately, Ava's phone buzzed on the nightstand, cutting off her train of thoughts.
She glanced at the screen, it was an alert from her bank.
*Monthly transfer successful. $500,000 deposited into your account*
Ava's heart skipped a beat, but this time with joy.
Their agreement.
Ava took a deep breath and slipped out of the elegant gown, leaving her feeling exposed in her underwear.
As she hung it in the closet, she couldn't shake off the feeling of being bought. As much as she hated this arrangement, she had not much of a choice. She was at her lowest in life and this opportunity was a far better choice than the one Maya offered her.
Soon enough, Damien came out from the bathroom, Ava's eyes involuntarily moved to his dripping wet body. Water droplets clung to his chiseled chest, and his hair was slicked back, revealing his sharp jawline. Electricity trembled in the air, sending responsive tremors through Ava's body.
But suddenly aware of her ogling, she hastily looked away and Damien's low chuckle sent a shiver down the length of her spine.
"Ava?" he said coming closer and as he drew closer, Ava's nervousness intensified.
"Damien, I...I need to tell you something," she stammered.
"What is it?" he asked, his breath whispering against her ear.
"I'm...a virgin." she blurted out and Damien's movements stilled.
Silence.
"Say that again," he whispered.
"I'm a virgin, Damien."
"A virgin?" he repeated and she nodded.
He leaned in, his lips grazing her ear.
"Ava, don't worry. I'll be gentle," he whispered.
He started by trailing feathery kisses down her neck.
Ava stood frozen, her pulse leaped at the feel of his lips on her smooth naked skin, unsure of what to do.
"Get on the bed, Ava." he said but Ava hesitated before she moved to the bed.
He undressed her slowly, leaving her naked and vulnerable, and Ava's cheeks blushed with shame. Then he made her lie on the bed and watch while he stripped off. She could hardly breathe for fear of what was to come.
Ava gasped. She had seen men with no clothes on before especially some pictures in a magazine. But never like this, never so turgid and swollen. It was like a weapon.
Damien lay beside her and started to kiss her. He kissed her long and hard. The feel of his tongue exploring her mouth created a vacuum of excitement in Ava that she had never known before. She felt his hands roaming her body and passion flared between them like the red spark at the heart of a flame. It was ironic, Ava thought.
"Are you ready to try?" asked Damien.
"Y...yes," she whispered, still unsure.
She looked into his eyes. His deep, brooding intense eyes. "I'm frightened...," she began. But he wasn't listening, he was on top of her and forcing his way between her legs. Thrusting, pushing...and it hurt in a pleasurable way.
"Relax," he kept on saying, "just relax."
She began to experience a feeling of tenseness building up inside of her that wanted to burst right out.
"Oh, Damien...," she cried out.
He was silent. Sweat beading his forehead. He balanced his weight on his arms, and churned in and out of her. It was over for her. The strength flooded from her
body. She felt positively euphoric. How ironic.
Their business arrangement had just become painfully real and this is just the beginning.
- Writer
