by H. Q. Frost
When my family arrives, I'm over the moon to see them. I haven't been gone that long, but it's nice to have something from home, in my temporary home. Only part of my extended family are attending because the others couldn't afford to fly here, but I don't mind. We aren't really a close knit family.
"Sit here," I tell my sister as we gather around the dining room table for an early dinner.
Everyone including Callum's family is here, excluding my dear 'ole fiancé. So I take his seat at the head of the table. I don't really care he's not here, but everyone's questions on his whereabouts are starting to make me feel attacked.
"He's just not here," Gee finally snaps for me and everyone falls silent.
"Gee," her mother scolds.
"Well god! Leave the poor girl alone. Callum's obviously tending to something important or he'd be at her side. He's not here and she doesn't have to tell us why."
I smile softly in thanks, but she's too worked up to return the smile. She's definitely caught on to the bizarreness between Callum and myself and I think that's why she's getting so upset.
Right as the first course is being served, Callum runs into the room like he's late for something. He's not late. He's completely uninvited, but I can't tell him that. People are gasping and giggling, standing to greet him but his eyes are pegged on me, and they're not his eyes. He's…drunk?
"Ms. Reif," he says, stalking toward me.
I stand from his chair and pull it out a little farther for him while I listen to people question what he just called me. An engaged man referring to his fiancée in such a proper way is weird.
"Sit, sit, my mermaid." He gestures to the chair and my eyes go wide. What the hell did he just call me? "This hair." He growls but not in an angry way. His fingers slide through my hair while he pulls me against him.
Our audience starts to laugh and encourage more of his antics while I try to push him away. I don't know what to do or say while I'm held to his chest and he's staring down at me like he wants to eat me. Probably starting between my thighs. Callum Carbon has been abducted by aliens.
"You'll be joining us, Callum?" a cousin of his speaks up and I turn my head until Callum pushes my chin, making me look at him again.
"What are you doing?" I quietly hiss.
"You're a sight for sore eyes."
I give my head a little shake as utter confusion takes over. "If you don't stop making a scene in front of our families I'm going to make them really sore," I whisper my threat and he chuckles, finally letting me go.
When I head toward the end of the table where there are a few open seats, he grabs my wrist.
"I have a gift for you, Ms. Reif," he says only to me but those sitting close enough can hear him.
"Don't do this now, Callum." I sigh.
"Don't dote on my fiancée in front of our families?"
"Callum, please," I whisper as he turns me to face the table.
Everyone down to my mother, excluding my sister, is staring on in delight. They're loving this show, but if they knew how strange it is, they wouldn't feel that way. Like Mary does. She doesn't know all the details. I stopped complaining after she went on a tirade, but she knows things aren't progressing into a love story like I stupidly thought they would.
When cold metal lands on my bare chest, I flinch, not expecting the heavy necklace. My hand raises to the gems, and whatever they are, they feel huge. The gasps and pleasant noises coming from our guests confirm this isn't just any necklace. There is a square cut stone that seems to be the size of both my thumbs together and it's not a chain. Whatever is wrapping around my neck is made of more jewels. This isn't a necklace I should be wearing.
"You'll wear it tomorrow," he whispers in my ear and my stomach flutters while my knees go weak. His antics are a complete turn off, but my body doesn't care.
"I have a necklace for tomorrow," I whisper as I turn to face him.
"You'll replace it with this. It's beautiful and matches your hair. Please wear this necklace?" His drunken features start to droop like I'm breaking his heart. As much as I want to stomp on his heart, I can't bear this look.
My hair wasn't going to be mint for the wedding. I was going to go back to blonde so we could have a 'normal' wedding. But now he's bought me jewelry to match my hair… I thought he'd want my hair a natural color.
"Callum," I whisper before smiling over my shoulder because people keep insisting I show them the necklace. "Just a moment." I grip his wrist and pull him to the hallway.
The table of our families are cheering, probably thinking I'm going to thank my doting fiancé in a way that isn't for their gazes.
"What are you doing?" I whisper in stress when we get into the hall.
"Joining our families for dinner. Giving you a gift. Why is it that no matter what I do, I'm the bad guy?"
I gasp. How dare he turn this around on me.
"You are the bad guy," I grit out and he laughs.
"But I can put on a show."
His words make me close my eyes as my heart sinks. It's all for a show.
Before he can walk away, I call his name. "My hair isn't going to be green for the wedding. Take the necklace back."
He grins at me with an evil smile and I brace myself.
"Keep the mint color. When I flipped through versions of you as I pleasured myself, my fantasies kept going back to you with green hair on your knees in front of me. Keep the green hair. And the necklace is ten million American. Keep that too. Sell it when I get rid of you in a year." He walks into the dining room and I stay frozen in my spot.
The necklace is ten million dollars? My heart's hammering and my stomach is twisting, but the second I burst into tears, I realize it isn't the necklace that has me out of breath. I know what the end game is. Divorce after a year, but each time he rubs it in my face I can't help but feel hurt. My fingers wrap around the stones and I almost yank it free, but I stop myself. I'll need it in a year when he gets rid of me. The paperwork I signed stated I will get no financial gain from marrying him and if things were to not work out, I will walk away with exactly what I came in with. Which was nothing. My mother gets to keep her money.
After collecting myself in a bathroom down the hall, I step out the door and Lol is waiting. Pity all over his face as usual.
"Mr. Carbon is back," he informs me. He wasn't privy to the spectacular show Callum put on.
"I know."
"He was traveling to…" His eyes go to the necklace and he pauses. "Ah, I see you've received your gift." He gestures.
"I did." I touch it and force a smile.
"If you know his intentions, why are you still here?" he questions and my brows rise.
"What are his intentions?" I glance down the hall.
"Never mind."
"No. Lol." I grab him before he walks away. "What are his intentions? And I signed the paperwork. I don't have an option to leave without breaking the agreement."
"I only found out his intentions recently. You're to have his child and after a year, he will request a divorce. If you were to say…go missing, your mother's money will not be revoked. It's not the same as you breaking the agreement."
"Lol." I chuckle but the serious expression on his face makes me back up.
Could I do that? I'd have to stay missing for the rest of my life and that means from my family too. He's not a monster that has me fearing for my life. I would never do that. I'll grin and bear it for a year and then file it as the most fucked up experience of my life.
"I'm marrying Callum," I say with finality and move around him as he sighs.
"My guilt is getting the best of me, Mag," he admits before I get far and I turn back for explanation. "I aided him in ruining your life."
"It's not ruining it. It's an experience."
"Bearing his child then having it taken from you is an experience?"
I inhale sharply through my nose and my stomach flips. How could I be so stupid not to realize the child I birth will never leave here with
me?
"I have to get back to dinner." I stop my march when I get to the doors, then casually enter the room with a smile on my face.
Callum has a chair at the head of the table next to mine now and our guests are finishing their soup.
"I apologize. I got caught up with the coordinator for tomorrow," I lie as I enter and Callum stands, pulling my chair out for me. His act is making my stomach turn.
Compliments on the necklace start and people begin comparing it to my hair. My tight smile is so painful I'm worried it's going to cause premature aging.
Noticing Callum hasn't eaten yet, I look over at him. He gestures to my food and I pick up my spoon before he does the same. He waited to eat until I returned to the table. He's really got this act down to a T. As time goes on, I notice Callum becoming quieter. He was the star of the show, but now he seems tired.
"Look at how she stares at him," a woman speaks up with a coo to their voice. "They're so in love. The Carbon Couple. They sparkle."
Realizing she means us, we're the 'Carbon Couple', I open my mouth to defend myself, but I can't. I have been staring at him, but because something's wrong with him. He's losing steam and seems like he's sick. I'm not in love. We don't sparkle. And who named us that!
"I love the Carbon Couple. When I saw that on the invite I about died. It's adorable."
That was on my wedding invitation? I laugh it off and when Callum seems to come to from the sound and glances at me, I look away.
Dessert is replaced with drinks and I want to indulge but don't. I'm not going to blow the chance of becoming pregnant for alcohol.
"Callum," I quickly say when his elbow slips from the table.
Turning, I place one hand on his back and the other on his chest, and when I glance toward our guests, thankfully no one seems to be paying attention.
"Are you okay?" I whisper.
His head nods while he grabs my hand that's on his chest and he shifts it downward, lower and lower until I'm pressed against the heavy girth in his pants.
"What are you doing?" I quietly hiss while my palm becomes familiar with his impressive width.
"I need this," he responds and forces my hand to slide over the length of him, back and forth.
"Please don't do this." I smile and look at our guests that are entertained by each other.
He presses harder against my hand and continues to stroke. My stomach twists in delight while signaling to my lower regions that I’m touching Callum.
"Callum." His name exhales from me in a shaky breath and I clamp my thighs together.
If anyone looked, they'd know and I can't do this. This is our family! My mother would murder me.
"Everyone can see. We can't do this here." I meant to say in general. We can't do this.
Neither of us want this. Yet my hand isn't stopping. He could let go right now and I'd continue to slide over the length of him as my underwear becomes damper and damper.
He shifts in his chair and leans toward me to whisper in my ear. I yank my right hand free and he grips my wrist, but before he can make me continue, I switch to my left hand. It's less conspicuous and with the way he's angled, people may assume we're whispering sweet nothings to each other. Little do they know. When my left hand connects, he grunts in approval and surprise, his lips clamping my ear lobe.
"Callum," I breathe and use my right hand to adjust the table cloth in our laps while my left works to release him from his pants.
If we're going to do this, I want to feel his hot flesh against mine. I move slowly so no one hears the zipper, but this room is almost as loud as the club the other night. Getting him free, I pause while his warmth presses against my hand.
"Holy shit," I whisper because I am shocked I'm in this position with this man right now. I would love to throw my leg over his lap and slip him inside me.
"Touch me," he whispers and his hand slides over my thigh, pushing my dress up so he can get higher.
If anyone were to approach us, it wouldn't take long to figure this out but I can't stop. Sickly enough, it makes the idea more appealing. I know Callum is using me. He's drunk and only wants to come. But I can't find a care at the moment. This is exhilarating.
"You smell incredible," he says against my jaw in a breathy pant. I'm wearing the perfume he gifted me. "Are you wet, Magdelena?" The way he says my name is like he's straight from the best worst nightmare I'll ever have.
His tongue flicks over my ear and I close my eyes before remembering our guests can see my face. His is hidden so that means I need to keep my eyes open and a smile on so they only think he's whispering romance in my ear.
"Yes," I reply and as his hand slides higher, I subtly open my legs while my wrist begins to speed up.
"You want a man between these legs to show you a pleasure you've never had?"
I turn my head a little, my cheek rubbing against his beard and I exhale a quiet whimper. "Yes."
"Would you allow me to fuck you, coat myself in your come, then allow me to fuck your mouth?"
I swallow hard and the second my eyes start to close, I pop them open wide again. "Yes." My inner muscles clench before releasing in pulses, begging for what my hand has.
"Would you gag on me? Choke on me? Deprive yourself of oxygen for my pleasure?" His fingers are only inches from where I need them.
"Yes, Callum, yes," I whisper, my own breath panting. Before I can say yes again, I feel him go stiff, the warmth of his release rolling over my hand. "Yes," I hiss in victory, milking every last bit of him I can.
Grabbing my wrist, he stills my stroking then slowly pulls back. Grabbing a napkin, he moves it to his lap and places it over my hand. I move quickly and clean my hand under the table cloth. I stare at him while cleaning my palm and I watch as his eyes scan the area.
"Callum," someone says and my already jackhammering heart pounds faster as the man approaches. I recognize him as Callum's friend, but I remember I don’t really like him.
Callum stands and I can't help but glance toward his crotch but I don't stare because people are starting to approach.
Turning to me, he bends and kisses my forehead. "Good night, Magdelena," he says and my eyes only meet his for a brief second before he looks away and follows the man into the hall.
I'm so wound up, one touch will make me explode.
"Mag, let's dance," Gee says, skipping toward me in drunken excitement. "We'll pretend we're at the club again."
My eyes scan the room for my mother or sister, or anyone in my family I recognize but everyone has mixed and they're mingling. I feel like the atmosphere in this room has shifted significantly. We're having a full blown party now. I was too busy jerking off a man I despise emotionally but crave sexually. And then he walked away from me.
Without wanting to, I allow Gee to pull me from my chair and we move closer to the source of the music. I need to wash my hands. I need to get myself off and clean up. I need so much more than what's happening in this room. I make it through a song and do the only thing I can do. I fake sick because I need to take care of myself. People start to protest, but no one did that when Callum walked away.
"Leave her be. She has a big day tomorrow," Gee's mother says and smiles at me.
"Please, is there anything I can do for anyone before I turn in for the night?"
"Go. Go enjoy your last night as an unmarried woman." Gee giggles and I hug her.
Spotting my sister, I move toward her, the rubbing of my underwear making me hate Callum more than I already do.
"Mary," I interrupt her from talking to a girl I don't know, but Callum has a huge family.
"Mag!" Mary is drunk. I wonder if our mom knows. "Are you ready for tomorrow?"
I shoot a smile to the woman waiting for her attention again then nod at my sister. "I'm heading to bed. I'm exhausted," I lie.
I'm wound up enough I would almost go to Callum's room and demand he take care of me, but screw him. He should have taken me when he said he was going to sleep. I'm not giving
him the opportunity to get off again, because I know I'd do anything the asshole wanted me to tonight.
My palms are sweating and I've never felt sicker in my life. I will be married in less than an hour and I'm waiting to take my place to marry a woman I have no business being around. The night prior, I had to get out of that gathering, and not because she had gotten me off, but because I almost had myself talked into sliding under that table. I need these thoughts out of my head or I'll act on them and the last thing I need is for her to think we share a bond we don't. We share nothing. Down to her empty womb. God, but I wanted to fill her last night. The disdain I have toward her can't seem to subjugate the lust I feel for her. I haven't seen her since I walked away from that table. I hid in my office to have a few drinks with an old friend that wanted to drill me about how I'm marrying a stranger. As much as I insisted she's not a stranger, he could see through my lies. I met Evelyn, my ex, through him, so he knows the sudden break up because I had another woman was too sudden. Especially a woman that is the polar opposite of me. We laughed it off until he insinuated he'd take Magdelena off my hands. Suddenly it wasn't funny and I was no longer playing games. As much as I don't want her, no one else is going to have her either. She's mine.
"Sir," Lol gets my attention. "It's time." He gestures to the door and I pause.
It's time. I never saw myself as the marrying type and I still don't, but I will be married and divorced all within a year. I don't like that mark on my record, married and divorced, but I have no choice. With a nod, I follow him to the doors and exit. Everyone quiets down and watches me descend the aisle to take my place.
"Please." I laugh. "Carry on. I'm not the main attraction."
Laughter fills the room and I drop my head, looking to my polished shoes. She will be the main attraction. I'm not prepared to see what dress she's had designed, but I'm sure it'll be stunning. Whether good or bad. If only we were consummating this marriage I probably wouldn't be feeling so tense. Even after she jerked me off last night, I had to do it again. I can still remember the way I throbbed in her hot hand while my orgasm spilled from me. I need actual sex and a year without it will be impossible, but I've been through worse. I refuse to sleep with her. Confuse her. Give her hope there is anything more between us than a contract. I need to get my mind off sex because these pants will not hide those thoughts.