CHAPTER 8: WEDDING NIGHT II
James walked into the room and saw that his bride was still awake. He frowned slightly as he took in her tired face. "It's already midnight. Why are you still up?"
"I have some things to say to you too," Diana responded.
James walked over to the sofa and sat beside her. "I'm listening."
"First, have you had dinner?"
James looked at her, surprised. It had been a long time since someone had asked him that. The butler and the maids only inquired if he wanted to eat, never if he actually had. He had long learned not to expect such concern from anyone. When he didn't reply immediately, Diana continued.
"I asked the maid earlier if you had eaten and where you were. She said you were in your study and wouldn't eat until later. You know, you should really try to avoid eating so late. Well, actually, I guess it's not so bad since you obviously work out. Otherwise, your stomach would have been huge by now." She grinned. "Don't worry, I'll make sure that changes, alright?"
James stared at her in stunned silence.
Diana smiled at his lack of response. "You don't have to say anything. I know you're kind of emotional about what I just said."
James: …?!
He raised a brow, then chuckled lightly. "Is this what you wanted to say to me?"
"No, but answer me first—have you eaten?"
"Well, yes, I have. Thank you."
"Okay." Diana nodded, then suddenly felt incredibly nervous. Maybe it was the way he was staring at her so intensely. She started wringing her hands together and kept swallowing spit.
James was getting impatient. "Diana?"
"If you could just stop looking at me like that, I'll talk."
James blinked. What way? And why did it feel like he had been blinking too much since he met this woman? Before he could ask, she started talking again.
"So, what I wanted to say is... Even though this is an arranged marriage and you might not be able to fall in love with me—maybe you already have someone else on your mind—I don't mind. I'll also try my best to live well with you." She hesitated before adding, "Oh! And you can be rest assured that I have no one too… at least not really, not anyone that would cause problems."
James watched as she stood up, her nerves apparent. His eyes traveled to the nightie she was wearing. It was huge and ugly, with an unsightly teddy bear printed right in the middle. He made a mental note to have all her nightwear changed immediately.
Diana was almost at the bed when his voice made her stop in her tracks.
"I thought we were going to start making babies tonight, like you said?" James smirked. "I can't wait to get you pregnant."
Diana's cheeks burned hotter than the sun. She struggled to maintain her balance as her legs wobbled.
James smiled lazily at her reaction. He could feel her trembling from head to toe.
Was he really going to do the deed now? Diana screamed internally and quickly cast that thought away.
James felt her shiver under his gaze but had no intention of letting her go just yet. "I mean, what happened to 'I will try my best to live well with you'?" he taunted.
Diana screamed in her head again. That's not what I meant!
She felt tears sting her eyes as her own words came back to bite her. So much for confidence when it came to this damned man!
"Or," James continued, leaning closer, "you could also give me your body as a wedding gift since you didn't get me anything."
Diana gasped. "Well..." she started in a small voice. "I was going to get you something later once I stepped outside..." She looked at him pleadingly, hoping he would take pity on her.
James ignored her attempts at escape and scooped her up effortlessly. Before she could protest, he gently laid her on the bed, caging her beneath him. His face lowered to the crook of her neck, and she felt his hot breath against her skin. Goosebumps erupted all over her body.
"James, please," she called out pitifully.
James groaned inwardly. The damn woman had used his body wash, and it smelled so good on her. It was driving him insane.
He bit her neck and sucked lightly.
Diana's body arched, an unfamiliar heat coursing through her veins. Then—
"Ahh!"
She immediately covered her mouth, utterly horrified by the sound she had just made. Her embarrassment grew as tears pricked her eyes.
James bit her again, sucking harder this time. The reaction was instant—her body tensed, her legs clamping together and rubbing against him.
James clenched his jaw. The way she was pressing against him was making it worse. His self-control was hanging by a thread.
Then, something salty touched his lips.
He paused. Tears?
He lifted his head and met her wide, panicked gaze. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears, and her body trembled beneath him.
James exhaled, his voice softer this time. "What's wrong?"
What's wrong?! Diana almost laughed bitterly. Does he really not know? But she swallowed her thoughts and pleaded instead.
"Can it not be today? Please?"
James studied her face, searching for something. When he saw nothing but raw fear in her eyes, he exhaled deeply and pulled away. Without another word, he walked into the closet, then into the bathroom.
Diana stayed frozen, waiting until she heard the bathroom door shut. She let out a heavy sigh of relief… but at the same time, she felt an odd sense of loss she couldn't explain.
Shaking off the feeling, she grabbed two pillows and used them to create a great wall in the middle of the bed. Satisfied with her barrier, she curled up and closed her eyes.
Inside the bathroom, James stood under the freezing shower, staring down at his very active member. He cursed under his breath.
That damn woman.
Why had he let himself get so worked up?
After hearing her soft words about trying to live well with him, he had wanted nothing more than to claim her right there. His fists clenched against the wall, his breathing ragged. It took what felt like a century to calm himself down.
Finally, after cooling down—both figuratively and literally—he stepped out of the bathroom, towel-drying his hair.
Then he stopped.
Right in the middle of his bed, his wife had built a pillow fortress to block him out.
James scoffed. This woman is something else.
For a split second, a wicked thought crossed his mind—he could take those pillows and whack her with them for putting him through this torture tonight. But he quickly dismissed it. He had never, and would never, lay hands on a woman, even in jest.
He sighed and climbed into bed, respecting her childish pillow wall.
Still, a thought lingered in his mind before sleep took over.
If she's doing this now, what will happen in the future?
Would she one day try to chase him out of his own room?
James shuddered. Hell no.
He smirked to himself. If it ever came to that, he would definitely kick her out first.
His wife was something else… but damn if she wasn't interesting.