Present-day.
"Mmm fffmm…"
"Ahhhhaa…!" My dried tears are now covered with wet fresh ones. He enjoys biting my neck and shoulders. Sometimes he breaks the skin. Whether it bleeds or not he likes to lick it afterward.
"Mmmmmm…." His low grunt is commonplace to me now.
Ten years of this.
Would you believe that we are married two years now?
I couldn't believe it either. Our families planned and paid for it. Now that I think about it, all of it seemed too easy and convenient.
Now that I 'really' think about it, whenever we would get together with our families during the holidays no one seemed to be fazed by his incessant touching and hugging of me. Oh, wait! That one year when I attempted to pull away from him once while sitting on the couch across from our fathers, my father gave me the look of death.
It was then that I looked around the room. No one cared.
Maddox pulled me closer to him without breaking his conversation with my younger sister. I admitted defeat and just took in his warmth and cologne.
After a while, I told him that I needed to go to the bathroom. I needed to find my mother. She would give me answers.
She was in the dining hall instructing the maids as they set up the table. I stand next to her and ask in a hushed voice, "Mom, is there something that I should know?"
"About what sweetie?"
"About me and Maddox." She continues to gesture to one of them about the napkin fold. One of the butlers is then gestured to help her.
I hear her exhale. "Hmm...his parents and he came by once during one of your baseball practices in your freshman year of high school."
She inhales slowly watching the maids and butlers intently as she speaks. "He and his father both had that stoic and cold expression. His mother was sitting next to him in a ladylike manner, all smiles. He said firmly that he wanted you and didn't care if we agreed or not." She pauses and finally looks at me turning to the side. "His father and he, you know….they always get what they want. Those eyes...that presence..."
I know what she means. He has a commanding presence and always gets his way in life and business.
Inhaling again she looks me dead in the eyes and says, "They offered 12% each of their companies."
My gulp got stuck in my throat. I could feel my lips quivering. "Are...you...saying that you sold me for 12% shares in their company!" I shout lowly.
"No honey. Twelve percent for me, twelve percent for your dad,...and…" She cups my face in her hands and leans in close,".....14% for you."
I couldn't breath. I don't know how I got there but I found myself on the first two steps of the staircase. My vision blurred and my head throbbing. I shook my head holding it with my right hand.
Suddenly I feel a hand on my left hand. It grips tight, his thumb rubbing my thumb. His other hand snakes around my waist. We begin to walk up the stairs.
Once we enter my room I run to my bed and soak my pillow. My entire body shakes with my shoulders heaving up and down roughly.
The edge of my bed goes down a little. I feel his hand smooth along my back. All I hear are my sobs getting louder.
After a few moments, I turn over on my back and look up at the ceiling. His hands follows going from my back to my torso...caressing along my chest.
"My parents basically sold me to you."
I hear him breathe in deeply. My eyes move to his. Burning into me…
"Whether they gave me their consent or not…" He lifts his head to the ceiling inhaling and exhaling slowly, "You were always going to be mine."
Looking back down at me that maniacal grin spreads on his face. His hands up my sweater unbuttoning the crisp white shirt underneath it.
After an hour there is a knock on the door.
"Yes?" He answers.
"It is both of your plates Young Master Palmer."
"Leave them there."
I laugh internally. Of course...he was always a Young Master of this manor.