The Marriage Contract

by Tara Ahmed

  Wait. Why was he here? He wasn’t going to undress in this room was he?

  “You can’t undress here!” I whipped my head around, my eyes meeting his.

  Whoa.

  James sat near the headboard on the bed, his tall, muscular physique, sprinkled with light droplets of water. His raven brown hair, swept over his head, as that soapy fragrance swirled towards me once more.

  I blinked slowly, feeling my mouth dry.

  And then, as though I’d been stirred from a deep sleep, his finger snapped towards me, and I gasped.

  Oh, crap. Crap, crap, crap!

  How long was I staring at him?

  He laughed, as I turned, diverting my gaze to the peach pajama set draped over my open luggage.

  “Like what you see?” He sounded amused, but there was a challenge in his voice, as though daring me to do something.

  I shook my head.

  “Don’t flatter yourself! I’m…um…I’m going to shower,” I muttered.

  “I feel violated,” he said. “You assaulted me with your eyes you know.”

  I scoffed, standing to my feet. Turning around, I shot him a glare. But there he sat, indecently exposed, making my heart race. I turned once more, facing my back to him, and again, he laughed.

  “I did no such thing,” I said. “You’re imaging things!”

  As I walked towards the door, unable to stop the rapidity of my heart, the tapping of his footsteps made me freeze.

  I stood by the open door, staring at his shadow that loomed over me. A shiver passed through me, and though I couldn’t see him, I felt the curve of his smile, as he traced an arm over my shoulder.

  He was touching me.

  Wait, no. He wasn’t touching me.

  What he was doing, at that moment, was much, much worse.

  His hand traced an inch over my arm, hovering down, as though he were pretending to rub my arm.

  I clamped my lips shut, refusing to let out that sigh that I knew was urging to come out. I couldn’t let him hear me make weird noises. I was horrified enough.

  But why was I still standing there? Leave, you idiot! Walk away! Be cool!

  “I didn’t know innocence still existed,” James whispered, the wind from hips blowing against my neck.

  He had me trapped, and though my mind was screaming at me to get the hell out of that room, my body was utterly hypnotized by his charm.

  No. Snap out of it, Dorothy. Snap out of it!

  Taking a deep breath, I decided to do the only thing I could do to force my body away from him.

  “Mustard and mayonnaise on carrots, dipped with a can of grape juice, topped with a giant layer of burnt onions. Yum!”

  When I was a child, my uncle once told me that whenever I felt nervous, or afraid, or frozen, I should just recite that horrible recipe, and everything would feel okay.

  It worked.

  My heart stopped accelerating its beats, and I took that moment, to jog towards the bathroom, rushing inside, and locking the door.

  My hands shook, as I stepped inside the wide, luxurious bathroom, which had two sinks against the side of the wall. I placed my clothes against the golden railing against the bathtub, before stripping off my clothes, and stepping inside the shower.

  The image of James drenched in the blue towel flashed across my mind, and so, for the entirety of the shower, I repeated my uncle’s phrase, willing the inappropriate image of him to disappear from my mind forever.

  As I shampooed my hair, lathering my hands over my wet locks, I realized that there was something wrong with the picture.

  James stated in his rules that we must never fall in love, and I happily agreed to that rule. But if he didn’t want anything to do with me, then why did he try to seduce me?

  Wait. No…it couldn’t be.

  I lathered my hair a bit harder, as I realized something else.

  I had stated in my rules that we are not allowed to touch. But he hadn’t touched me though…he had merely traced his skin over mine, only pretending to touch me.

  But…could that possibly mean that he was trying to challenge my “no touching” rule?

  Was he trying to seduce me into breaking that rule so we could have some kind of no strings attached relationship?

  Oh, that sly jerk.

  Dropping my hands to the side, I glared at the shower wall, my chest rising and falling. My hands closed into fists, as I realized that James was playing a game with me. A very twisted, wicked game.

  Unfortunately for him, I knew how to play as well, and I would not, under any circumstances, let him win.

  Chapter Eleven

  James rested on the bed, a hard cover book lazily held in one hand, shielding his face, as his long legs crossed at the ankles- wrinkling the pristine white comforter. A plain white t-shirt covered his wide chest, as he rested a free hand on top of his thigh, over navy blue shorts.

  Standing by the door, I cleared my throat, watching as he closed the book, dropping it beside his hip. He looked at me- his eyes glimmering in amusement, and for a moment, the image of his towel clad form clouded my mind. My vision burned, as I shook my head, trying to rid my mind of the vulgar picture.

  “What the hell are you wearing?” He laughed, sitting up- his brown irises lit with mirth.

  I frowned, staring down at my peach pajama set that had red tulips printed on each of the long sleeves. April had gifted it to me last year for my birthday, and though I wasn’t fond of the strange patterns at first, as the year went by, I had acquired a liking for it.

  “It’s comfy,” I replied, shrugging. “Besides, what do you know about women’s style—”

  He grinned. “I know that no woman in the world would choose that extremely unsexy disaster you’re wearing—“

  “I’m not trying to look good for you, so it doesn’t matter to me what you think. Besides, the tern “sexy” is relative. I don’t care what you think.”

  I tilted my chin upwards in the way I do when I think I’m right, narrowing my eyes at him. But as his gaze raked over my pajama clad form- his golden brown eyes, slowly tracing over the lines of my body, I gulped.

  He noticed.

  His eyes flashed to mine, as I dropped my hands to the side, fiddling them against the cotton fabric of my thighs.

  His full lips pressed together in a stiff line, as he straightened against the headboard. A ghost of a smile placed at the edge of his mouth, and I didn’t know why, but I had the terrible urge to throw something at him.

  I couldn’t stand the way he looked at me as though I was a doll, presented to amuse and entertain him.

  “Oh, I think you do care.” A light musical tone drifted from his lips, as he stood; swinging his long legs off the bed.

  “I don’t,” I said.

  James took slow, predatory steps towards me, as though challenging me to step back. There was a hungry look in his eyes, as though he were desperately longing for water, and in me, he’d found his well.

  I refused to be his well.

  Though my heart pounded so loud I was sure it would rip out my chest, splatter on the ground, and scream, “save me!”- I refused to look away. There was an undefinable desire lurking in his golden brown orbs, sending me a thousand warnings, that if I did not step back, he would lunge.

  We were an inch apart, as he raised an eyebrow, impressed by my refusal to step back. My chest rose and fell, and the only sounds that came, were from the poundings of my heart.

  Not wanting to be a pawn in his seduction game, I decided that I should try to play along, and possibly confuse him in the process.

  I smiled. “You like me.”

  His brows furrowed in confusion, as his eyes dropped to the ground for a millisecond, then returned to mine. James took a step back- discomfort clouding his handsome face.

  “You’re mistaken,” he said, taking another step back.

  I took a step forward, grinning.

  I knew that whatever I was about to do, could either be in my favor,
or make me look like an irrevocable fool, but I was ready to take the risk. After all, I would not let him get away with the whole seduction act from earlier, because that would give him the upper hand in this marriage, and that is something I could not let him have.

  I placed my hair over my shoulder, giving him a sly smile. His gaze dropped to my mouth, as he shook his head, as though trying to rid himself of indecent thoughts.

  “I think you want me.” I spoke slowly, with a soft lull dripping over my tongue, as I took another step towards him. “You know…that thing you did after you came out the shower?”

  His eyes darkened with desire, as he ran a hand through his sandy brown locks.

  “Yeah?” he asked, speaking softly. “What about it?”

  I shot him a coy look, before taking three quick steps towards him. He took another three steps back, before slipping on the bed- falling. Like a great tide, his chest rose, and then fell, as he eyed me with a look of pure longing. I licked my bottom lip, leaning above him on the bed, and placing a hand against the bed, beside his neck.

  “The thing is James,” I began, speaking slowly.

  “Yeah?” he asked, his eyes locked on mine.

  For a moment, I was surprised that his focus was so intently placed over me, for he did not notice when my other hand reached over his head, grabbing hold of a plump, white pillow.

  “When you tried to seduce me earlier,” I continued, dipping my head towards him, so that our lips were only inches apart.

  “Go on,” he whispered.

  A lavender scent radiated off his skin, and it was almost intoxicating, as we gazed deeply into each other’s eyes, as I noticed my haunted reflection through his irises. I blinked- then shook my head, trying not to lose focus.

  “Well, basically,” I went on. “I thought...”

  “You thought?” His voice whispered, as desperation dripped from his tongue.

  I shot him a cheeky grin, sticking my tongue out. It took two seconds for him to realize what I was about to do, but before he could dodge- I swung the pillow at him, hitting him repeatedly in the head with it.

  “You creep!” My voice screeched, as he shielded his hands over his face, trying to dodge the pillow attack. “Don’t ever try to touch me again, you pervert! You perverted, pervert! Trying to seduce me, are you? Take that!”

  “Alright already,” he snapped. “Knock it off!”

  I huffed out a deep breath, and just as I was about to smack the pillow against his head once more, he swung over, placing both his long legs beside my hips- pinning me in place. His warm hands held either side of my wrist above my head, as my fingers gripped on to the pillow, before finally letting go.

  “Apologize,” I said, giving him a stern stare. “You were trying to break the no touching rule—“

  “So were you,” he said, his arms still pinning me down.

  “Only because you started it.”

  Ugh. I sounded like a child.

  He smirked. “So…you were trying to teach me a lesson?”

  I wrinkled my nose as if something foul had entered my mouth.

  He laughed. “I don’t apologize, Princess. But I’ll say thank you, though—“

  “For what?” I asked. “And let me go!”

  I tried to wriggle my arms out of his iron grip, but it was no use. He continued to smile in that easy going way of his, as he dipped his head towards my lips. I turned my face to the side, as my cheeks flushed a hot red- my heart drumming loudly within my chest. He chuckled softly, and I swore he whispered, “adorable”.

  But, I was probably just hearing things.

  “I’m thanking you for bringing us…closer,” he said.

  I refused to look at him.

  Great. How long were we going to be in this ridiculously uncomfortable position? His grip over my hands- softened, and just as he began to dip his head towards my neck, I screamed.

  “Snake!” I shouted, my eyes widening in horror. “Behind you!”

  He let go, jumping a foot away from the bed, and running to the end of the room. Fear clouded his eyes, as his pale, porcelain cheeks, began to turn a deep scarlet. His legs shook as though he were freezing, as he ran towards the bed, jumping on top of it, and screaming, “Fuck, I hate snakes!”

  And so for the next minute, I laughed.

  I laughed, and laughed, and laughed, till my stomach ached, and I fell to the ground, clutching my middle. Standing, I shook my head, trying to stop the laughter. But again, another burst of giggles spilled out, as the walls of the room were silenced by my laughter.

  He leaped off the bed, taking slow, feline steps towards me. I grinned, unable to hide my smile, as the angry look in his eyes, made me laugh once more.

  “Aren’t you amused,” he said, stalking towards me.

  “I most certainly am,” I smiled, taking slow steps back. “Thanks for the entertainment!”

  His almond eyes- narrowed dangerously, as he lunged towards me. I flashed both layers of my teeth, turned, and ran to the other room, laughing as the flashback of James jumping on the bed like a scared little boy, fogged my mind.

  “You better find a place to hide, little girl.” His voice rang through the hall way, as I continued to run down the vast space of our home.

  “Don’t worry about me, old man,” I called, giggling like a dork, for I snorted a few times too many.

  The sounds of his footsteps stilled, as a quiet chill flew past my neck, causing the goose bumps in my arms to rise. I slowly turned, but saw only the light from the tall window behind me, casting a luminescent glow over the brown wooden floor.

  “Where’d you go?” I asked. “Look, I didn’t mean to scare you. I didn’t even know you snakes freaked you out—“

  I yelped.

  Two strong, muscular arms slinked through my waist, curling over my belly, turning me around, and throwing me over a wide shoulder. I kicked my legs in the air like a wailing hen, shooting punches over his back.

  “Let go of me you brute!” It was not the best insult, but it sufficed.

  “Not happening, Princess,” said James, walking me back to the bedroom.

  “I’m going rip your hair out,” I warned. “Don’t tempt me, you Neanderthal. I’ll really do it—“

  “Go ahead,” he challenged.

  His arms wrapped tighter around my legs, as I hung over his shoulder like a rag doll. Without warning, I blew on my palms twice, before tugging his hair violently.

  “What the hell!” he yelled, groaning in pain. “That hurts!—“

  DING!

  “The bell!” we both said in unison.

  ‘ “Put me down,” I snapped. “I’ll do it again—“

  “Wait,” he scolded. “It must be the pizza—“

  On the sound of my favorite food, I uncurled my fists from his thick brown locks, as my stomach grumbled in a most impolite fashion. I smiled, awaiting the pizza, for I hadn’t had a slice in so long.

  I was getting a bit chubby from eating so much of it, anyway. Ugh, but it tasted so good. How can anyone resist pizza? The soft, cheesy layer that’s just the right temperature, cloaked in a rich, tomato sauce, and topped with beef peperoni that’s sizzling over the warm deliciousness.

  The drool from my mouth slipped on to his shirt.

  “Did you just drool on me?” he asked, walking over to the door, with me still hanging over his shoulder.

  “Sorry,” I grumbled. “Can you put me down now? I’m too hungry to attack you—“

  James placed me on the ground, and in the moment after, I ran to the door, twisting it open. My grin extended from ear to ear, as I smiled warmly at the awkward, acne ridden pizza delivery guy. He was stick thin, slouching before the door- his brown hands holding the box that was calling my name.

  Sitting against the white wall of the living room, I finished my fourth slice. James stared distastefully at me, sitting beside me, as I slurped the soda rather loudly. I glanced over to him, and frowned as he had eaten only one slice, not even
bothering to finish the crust. The pizza box rested between us like a barrier, as I cleared my throat, preparing to stand.

  His reached over the box, covering his palm over my forearm, staring intently at my right cheek.

  “Wait,” he said, bringing his hand towards my face.

  I flinched, and his hand tightened over my arm, slinking down so that it was placed over my hand.

  I gulped. “What are you—“

  He brushed a thumb at the corner of my mouth, as the soft flesh from his finger pressed gently beside my lips.

  “You had crumbs,” he explained lightly. “Right there.”

  I placed a hand over my cheek, dusting off any remaining crumbs, and sliding a foot away from him against the wall. My heart did that odd summer sault again, and I told myself that it was because I had eaten too many slices. That’s all.

  We gazed at each other for a few seconds, before he broke the contact, looking away. He appeared disturbed, for his eyes focused on the window ahead, gazing at the deep purple sky. I couldn’t help but wonder what he was thinking, as he sat on the ground- one long leg extended outward, while the other leg tucked under his thigh.

  He stood, walking towards the kitchen counter, and when he returned to our spot, there was a paper and pen gripped in one hand. The paper, I recognized, was our marriage contract. I stood before him, giving him a blank stare, as he passed the paper and pen to me.

  “Sign it,” he said.

  I re-read the rules once more, and as I turned to the next page- I noticed that he had already scribbled in his name in the signature spot. Taking a deep breath, I turned, placing the paper against the wall, and dragging my name across the dotted line of the contract.

  “Now, it becomes official,” he said. “Let’s try to stay out of each other’s way, shall we?”

  “Gladly,” I replied.

  That infuriating, insensitive, jerk!

  I had checked every room, and the only one containing a bed, was currently being occupied by the spoiled Prince of New York State. How could he not have told me to bring a sleeping bag with me, or something? I knew he had no time to order furniture, but he could have at least warned me that I would be sleeping on the floor for the night! That selfish son of a—