The Duchess of York

Margaret- An hour

s**t. s**t. s**t! What the hell was he thinking? Who did he think he was? I looked at my phone, Jasmine's name was on the screen as I thought about calling her. This was crazy, he obviously had lost it. I paced the bedroom, Dominick Collins, my husband, I shivered as that thought ran through my mind. He had been cruel, he was sexy, he was being sweet, I was definitely mad. I had lost it right along with him. But there were problems with this possible amendment, I looked down at my phone again before pressing the call button. Jas had more experience, she would be able to help. Right? After three rings she picked up.

"Mag? Are you okay?" her voice was like music to my ears.

"Hey Jas, I don't know what's going on? Can I ask you for some advice?" I waited for what felt like a few minutes as Jas seemed to whisper-shout at someone who had been with her, I heard a male voice chuckle and a door closing before she answered me.

"Maggie? You sound stressed. What has that mother--" I cut her off before she started ranting.

"Jasmine! He hasn't done anything, yet" I muttered the last part to myself, was I really considering something more. Sure Dominick was handsome, and we were married, but this would be breaking all of my rules right? Maybe not, I didn't want emotional attachments, I didn't want a child at the time, and there was some kind of tension I wanted to resolve, this idea of his could fix it.

"Well what's going on?" Jasmine's voice on the other side was comforting, she was my best friend, she was the only person in my life who was on my side.

"Dominick wants to have s*x!" I blurted out, the silence on the other end of the phone was deafening. Jasmine finally spoke up but the laughter in her voice was evident.

"Well then, what's the problem?" She asked trying not to giggle.

"Well it's Dominick, you know the guy who I was forced to marry, the guy who said all those awful things, I mean he was just kissing someone else two days ago!" I was almost out of breath at the end of my sentence but I wasn't done.

"I also have never done, that" I hesitantly and quietly admitted to Jas. Again she was quiet, I peaked out the bedroom and saw Dominick facing away from me, even from the back I liked how he looked, how he held himself. He wasn't overly fit but his shoulders were broad, hell he could pick me up like it was nothing. I went back inside the room, Jasmine hadn't said anything yet and it was making me nervous.

"Maggie? Ask yourself three questions. Are you attracted to him?" Yes I answered in my head as I slid to the floor shaking my head.

"Do you WANT to do that with him?" I blushed, yes, so far he had been the only man in my life that had been tempting to me. Jasmine's final question shocked me.

"If you said no, would you regret it?" Would I? I tried to imagine tomorrow, if we didn't try at least once how would I feel? There was one time, one moment, I thought we could work past our differences, we could be an actual couple. Now that wouldn't happen, but could it bring us to an understanding at least? Would it be proof that even an arranged marriage could be tolerable?

"Well?" Jasmine's tone was urgent and I looked down at myself.

"Thanks Jas I will text you later." I smiled at my phone.

"Wait you bit--" I hung up before she finished yelling at me, I looked out at Dominick. It had been 30 minutes since he left, he told me one hour, I walked into the bathroom and stared at myself in the mirror. I let my hair from it's bun watching it begin to frizz as it fell past my shoulders, I sighed as I pulled it back up. So much for trying to be more appealing, I touched up my make up and began a pep talk in my head. I could do this without bursting, I was enough, I did want this. God I wanted something. I heard a knock at the bathroom door, had it already been an hour? Slowly I opened the door, Dominick frowned when he saw me. This was a bad idea, he didn't even think I was attractive. I wrapped my arms around myself and stepped back letting the door fully open. Dominick's voice was low and I wanted to move closer to him but I kept my distance.

"I have to admit, I was hoping you would take me up on my offer." He pushed his hand through his hair, what? I c****d my head to the side. He frowned at me again.

"I, well, what?" I stammered, I began fiddling with the ring on my hand, twisting it to help my anxiety. Dominick lifted my chin to meet his eyes, I really liked his eyes.

"I wanted you on the bed ready for me. Instead you were in here, did you forget my little duck?" His gaze on me seemed to warm my skin, it was a new sensation and I welcomed it, I wanted more. I nodded my head and Dominick's eyes darkened.

"Margaret, tell me what you want." My mouth went dry at his words, what I wanted? I looked at his lips, and back to his eyes.

"You, Dominick. I want you." My voice sounded out of breath but I stood tall. He smiled, a genuine smile, he leaned down his lips next to my ear.

"As you wish" His lips trailed from my ear, over my chin, to my lips. As soon as he kissed me, I melted into him and sighed, he was good at that. Vaguely I felt him move away, when I opened my eyes back up he was a foot away holding up a tablet. He shot me a grin, I glared at him, Dominick passed the tablet to me and it was the amended contract.

3. We will only share a bed on our honeymoon

I put my initials next to his on the tablet, he briefly looked over it and then set it on the table next to the bed, he sat down and motioned for me to go to him. I tentatively walked up to him unsure of what to do, should I tell him?

"Before we do this" I gestured between us and his smile grew, like he was silently laughing at me.

"I have never.." I trailed off, I didn't want to say it out loud. God this was embarrassing, I looked down at my feet.

"That's fine, I will take care of you" when I looked back up his expression was serious, I nodded my head. I believed him.