TAMING THE BRIDE

Chapter 6

As Gwendolyn walked back to the picnic area, she grimaced at Hornald, who was again looking at her like an object to be bought. Her eyes were quick to find Noah, and they sparkled with embarrassment at the memory of their previous meeting. She then focused on Goustav who was simply eating without caring what was going on around him. She thought he would at least be good company since while he ate, he didn't talk or pay attention to her. And in order to avoid the others, she would rather watch him lick himself all over. But apparently, she wasn't so lucky. If it could even be called luck.

“I asked for a walk with you, Miss Roz, and your brother agreed. I hope it won't be an inconvenience for you, Miss, to be our escort.” Noah finished, addressing Marie.

“Of course, it's no bother,” Marie replied quickly with a big smile. As for Gwendolyn, she looked like she was sucking on a lemon, her expression less than satisfied.

Softly, Noah whispered near her ear, arousing chills that Gwendolyn hated herself to feel:

“Or you can stay here with Hornald while he tries to fish for you and publicly proposes to you. Or even Goustav, eating like a pig in the tent over there.”

“Of course,” she replied bitterly with a fake smile.

Then she would address Goustav, however, Noah grabbed her by the arm. He was surprised, as he believed Gwendolyn would choose him because he was the best-looking of her suitors. Seeing her preferring to stay with the then-nicknamed pig, his pride was once again hurt.

“What are you doing?!” She uttered coldly, sometimes aiming at him, then aiming at his hand, which was tightly clutching her arm. “It's not polite to hold a lady by the arm!” She completed as she tried to break free.

Noah was extremely angry. Being compared to a pig reminded him of the day he met her. He was like one back then: a pudgy little piglet! He didn't go through years of training and sacrifices to be called a pig again. Furthermore, he didn't want to imagine that everything he did to be recognized by her was in vain.

“You…” he began. Gwendolyn noticed his cold and sharp voice, his gaze even darker. Surprised, she trembled.

Gwendolyn felt Noah's painful look. And it bothered her to the point of facing him anxiously. She had faced many people and had insulted many people, but something inside her was telling her to apologize, even though she didn't know exactly why she should. Not because she was afraid of him trying something against her, but because she sincerely felt a pang of deep guilt for whatever she had done. Noah, noticing the slight trembling, released her, sighing deeply, maintaining self-control. He didn't want to give the impression of being a hostile or aggressive man, because he was not. His only intention was to make her love him.

“I'm sorry,” he said, letting go of her arm. Gwendolyn smoothed it lightly and kept her gaze low.

Marie, sensing the tension, tried to remedy it by insisting on the walk. Without really having much choice, Gwendolyn decided to join Noah's company.

When the three of them got far enough away from the view, Marie was quick to excuse herself and run off in joy. Her only friend had decided to abandon her alone with a man she barely knew and now couldn't stand. How dare she! Everything about this was inappropriate. Like a stubborn child, she crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes as she refused to stand beside him. Sure, the guilt was still consuming her, but she was determined to ignore it for good. She decided to speed up the pace and walked ahead of him so as not to have to look at his face. Maybe this way the walk would end quickly.

“Why are you so against marriage, Gwen?”

“Miss Roz!” She corrected abruptly.

“Forgive me, Miss Roz,” Noah commented as he reached her, his eyes lingering on her breasts being pushed up by the way she crossed her arms. It was sinful and quite inappropriate for a gentleman, but one simply couldn't help what was right before his eyes.

“Why would you choose me as your bride?” Gwendolyn suddenly turned, her voice rising.

“Because you are adorable!” She let out without thinking.

Gwendolyn's skin flushed furiously at his compliment.

“How superficial. Just now, you were angry with me…” she lowered her eyes, somewhat guilty.

“That…” she started, not knowing exactly what to say. Yes, he felt anger at that moment, but it was only a burst. Now that he was alone with his beloved, he didn't want to waste time remembering the past. “You are lovely in every way, not only in your appearance. Personality too.” He smiled.

“Now you are being too kind.” She spoke sarcastically.

“I know you're more than that cold exterior you let on.”

“You know nothing about me, Lord Salustti.”

“Noah, please.”

“As if I care.”

“Well, you're still talking to me, aren't you?” he smiled.

The more Noah spoke, the angrier Gwendolyn became. He knew exactly how to push her to the limit with his maneuvers. And Gwendolyn thought that was irritating. He was handsome but annoying, and with a smile that made her shiver in an unfamiliar way. Now the one who was beginning to tremble with anger was her.

“I can be silent.”

And she did. Not that he cared much. Her presence was more than enough. Her perfume intoxicated him in a way that for him, whether her speaking or not, at that moment, didn't matter. Yet, how he wanted to touch her!

They walked for what seemed like an eternity, and the sky began to darken. Noah's voice finally broke the silence.

“Looks like we're going the wrong way. Let's go this way…” he indicated.

“No!” Gwendolyn rejected, even though she had no idea where they were.

“You don't have to be so stubborn. Come, let's go this way.”

Gwendolyn stopped and for a moment thought about running away to someplace where he couldn't reach her.

“Come on, Gwen. Don't make things difficult.” He said stopping walking.

“It's Miss Roz! And I am not a child. You can go your happy path, and I'll go mine.”

She was annoyingly stubborn as a bull and had a hard head, almost as hard as his. Noah sighed deeply, deciding to do what he pleased, without announcing his intention. And so, with a few quick steps, he managed to grab the girl and put her over his shoulder as she struggled against it, her feet trying to kick his chest while her hands punched his back. Of course, it hurt, but Noah resisted. He carefully put his arm around her waist, avoiding her a*s, trying to be as proper as one could manage. Although, in truth, decorum was the last thing he cared about.

“Put me down, you bastard!” Gwendolyn screamed as she fought against it.

“No.”

“I hate you, Lord Salustti! I absolutely despise you!”

“The more you fight, the more tired you'll get. We'll go back to the picnic area before it starts raining.”

“Who are you to decide?! Put me down!… AAAHHHH!” She screamed in surrender.

Gwendolyn struggled against him until she got tired, her whole body warming to his touch. She could feel the muscles in her arms flexing as he gripped her tightly. Noah toyed with her, teasing her, saying he would slap her on the a*s if she tried to resist his 'help'. Then, choiceless and angry, she obeyed, her breathing weary from screaming and whimpering. The sky was darkening and they both looked lost.

“If I put you down, will you calm down?” Noah asked.

“Yes.”

“Is that a lie?” he suspected.

“Yes… I mean, no!”

“You will regret this, Gwen.”

As his grip loosened on her, Gwendolyn broke free and triumphantly declared her freedom. Until she realized that she had fallen into a strong current of water. Her anger boiled in her bones as she stared at him furiously. But he seemed quite amused by the scene, his sculpted lips curving into a smile, revealing subtle dimples in both cheeks. It was hard not to admire, and she could feel her face burning. The water was strong and cold, colder than she expected, the current beginning to push away.

“This is all your fault, you bastard!” She screamed trying to get up, but slipped and fell again clumsily, moving further away from the shore, which made Noah laugh shyly.

And yet, she started to feel afraid, really.

“I… I can't swim!” In desperation, she was trying to fight against the current that was pushing her further away from the shore.

At her declaration, Noah's face paled, quickly going to her, his body struggling against the strong current that flowed against them. Gwendolyn in a deeper part, and before he grabbed her, she slipped again and sank. He pulled her as hard as he could and pulled her to himself, his face in despair. He, though drenched, saw a Gwendolyn in even worse condition. She, now passed out, quickly took off her jacket to cover her. He did his best not to look at her, her clothes now transparent, outlining the curves of her body. He called out to her many times, but with no answer.

And it was as if God was mocking them. The once sunny sky no longer existed, instead, the sound of thunder echoed. The 'sky' began to fall dizzily.