"Do not take his words to heart," Nicklaus said the moment he laid Arissa on the bed. He cleared her hair strands from her face and traced her collarbones.
"I know I don't have to..." Arissa said reluctantly and then she added, "But he is your father,"
Nicklaus parted his lips and breathed through it. His father's words and uncalled for actions annoyed him greatly and he tried to control himself.
Nicklaus leaned closer to her face and when his face was just an inch away from hers, he assured her, "Being a father to me doesn't him the power to change anything between us." he paused and let his breath fan her face for a second before he continued, "You're my wife, not a contracted one but a woman I adore and nothing changes that, okay?"
Arissa clenched the sides of her dress and took in a deep breath. She expected the fight to come only from the higher-ups and not Nicklaus's father.
