~~~~
Passion, lust, and tension had gotten the best of him. So, he couldn't stand to patiently take off her night gown.
Instead, he ripped it open. Standing on top of her, he beheld the glorious sight that was Felicia, his wife.
The night they had consummated their marriage, she hadn't willingly yielded, and he had felt bad about forcefully having his way with her so they hadn't had any moments like that again.
But something about this night felt different. Felicia did not fight back, and her eyes pleaded with Nelson to indulge her in his guilty pleasures.
Within seconds, he began ravaging through every part of her. Trailing kisses from her neck down to her belly, and down to her pride.
Her moans echoed throughout the room as he indulged her every pleasure.
This time around, the pains Felicia felt were pains of unexplainable pleasures.
After a while, the steam cooled off and they slept off wrapped in each other's arms.
The next morning, Nelson woke up to Felicia's gentle smile. "Good morning," Felicia whispered.
His thoughts instantly flashed back to the previous night. They had actually made love, and from her moans, he knew she had enjoyed it just as much as he had, if not more.
Nelson's eyes had a soft sparkle in them, one they had never had before.
"Morning," Nelson replied, drawing her closer.
Their lips met in a tender kiss. For the first time ever, literally, Nelson felt a sense of peace and calmness within him.
But duty called.
Nelson's advisors awaited his decision on Ryker's invasion. He checked the time to discover that it was way past the time he had scheduled for the meeting with his council.
"Felicia, I have to attend to matters of state," Nelson said.
Felicia looked a bit disappointed, her eyes reassured Nelson that she understood.
"It's fine. You can go," Felicia urged.
Nelson got dressed, his mind torn between his feelings for Felicia, which was gradually gaining precedence within him, and his duty to his kingdom.
Walking over to the bedside where Felicia now lay asleep, he planted a soft kiss on her forehead before leaving for the meeting with his council men and generals.
In the war room, Nelson's generals briefed him on Ryker's plans. "We must strike first," Nelson declared upon hearing all that had been said.
His generals nodded in affirmation. "Yes, my king, you are right. We must give the first blow. That way, he will not see it coming," one of the army generals voiced.
But Nelson's thoughts drifted to Felicia. How was he going to protect her amidst war?
Later that evening, after all his appointments for the day had been concluded, Nelson returned to his chambers. Felicia awaited his return, her beauty radiant.
"You look troubled," Felicia noticed.
Nelson hesitated for a moment.
Then his eyes locked onto hers as he softly said, "Ryker's invasion is drawing nearer than we presumed… I fear for your safety," Nelson reluctantly confessed.
Felicia's voice softened. "I am your wife, Nelson. I'll stand by you. Besides, you ought to know better than to underestimate me by now."
Nelson's heart swelled. He took Felicia's hand.
"You are right. Together, we will face whatever comes and we will definitely emerge victorious."
Their love gradually grew stronger. But Ryker's shadows loomed.
One night, a mysterious letter arrived. Felicia's past secrets threatened to destroy their love.
The letter read: "Your wife is not who she claims to be."
Nelson's eyes narrowed in confusion. What did this mean? What secrets did Felicia hide? Who sent this letter? And what exactly was the person talking about?
Nelson's eyes narrowed as he entered their chambers, the mysterious letter clutched in his hand. "Felicia, we need to talk," Nelson said, his tone firm.
Felicia looked up from her book, concern etched on her face. "What's wrong?" Felicia asked.
Nelson handed her the letter. "Read this," Nelson commanded, his tone driving slowly towards anger.
Felicia's eyes scanned the letter, her face paling. "Where did you get this?" Felicia whispered.
Nelson's voice rose in anger. "Answer me, Felicia! What secrets are you hiding?"
Felicia's hands trembled in fear. "I...I didn't want you to find out. At least, not yet, and certainly not like this,," Felicia stammered.
Nelson's anger boiled. "Tell me what?" Nelson demanded.
Felicia took a deep breath before she finally spoke up. "My past...before I came here," Felicia began.
Nelson's eyes locked onto hers. "What about it?" Nelson pressed.
Felicia's voice barely above a whisper.
"You were not the only one who my father owed a huge debt to."
Nelson's expression darkened. "Who else did he owe? Tell me so I can pay off the person" Nelson growled.
A few drops of tears escaped from Felicia's eyes. "He owed another influential Mafia lord as well....and the man wanted to marry me, but I refused," Felicia confessed amidst her sobs.
Nelson's eyes blazed with fury. "Who is he?" Nelson demanded.
Felicia's voice trembled. "I won't tell you. It's irrelevant now."
Nelson's gaze pierced Felicia's. Leaning in, he whispered in her ears. "You're mine now, and no one will take you from me."
Felicia's heart skipped a beat upon hearing his words. "Yours?" Felicia repeated.
Nelson's lips brushed against Felicia's. "Yes. Forever mine."
Felicia's eyes were still shut as Nelson planted a soft kiss on her lips.
"Whenever you are ready to talk about everything, I will always be here," Nelson assured her. Upon hearing that, Felicia felt like a huge burden had been lifted off her shoulders.
Over the next few days, Felicia's memories kept resurfacing and haunting her in the process.
Nelson noticed her distress but kept quiet, waiting for her to come to him about what was bothering her.
When she did not do that, Nelson got tired of waiting.
So one afternoon while they were alone in his study, he asked, "Felicia, what troubles you?"
Felicia hesitated for a moment before she spoke.
"It's about…"