3. Scarlett
Chapter three
Scarlett
T oday’s the day most girls spend their lives dreaming about, waiting for their happily ever after to begin. But I’ve recently learned that happily ever afters are only found in books and movies—never in real life.
At least, not in mine.
The clock on the wall chimes twelve times, alerting me it’s time to go, but nerves swarm my stomach like a colony of bees as my feet remain firmly planted on the ground from fear.
Deep breath in. Deep breath out.
Closing my eyes, I repeat this process until I feel a semblance of calm.
I can do this.
I’m just saying, “I do,” and then signing my name on the dotted line. It doesn’t mean more than that. It’s just an arrangement to ensure my safety.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
And once my tormentor is found, I’ll have the choice to end my marriage. To be free. Happy.
But then, why does the thought of ending my marriage before it’s even started send another rush of anxiety through me?
Peering in the mirror, I smooth out the front of my dusty rose dress, admiring the floral pattern as it graces the floor around me. The sheer off-shoulder sleeves provide just the right amount of coverage, and seeing that it’s not a real wedding anyway—just a town hall ceremony—I chose something simple.
Something that still left me feeling…beautiful? I don’t know if that’s the right word to describe how I feel, but even I can’t help but stare at myself in the mirror—the reflection showing me a tiny glimpse of the girl I barely recognize anymore.
The door creaks open, and Mrs. Alarie sticks her head into the room. “Are you almost re—” Her eyes widen, taking me in. Stepping inside the room, she says, “Scarlett, you are the spitting image of your mother at this age. So beautiful.” She wipes at her eyes with a tissue, careful not to ruin her makeup. She’s about to place her hand on my shoulder but suddenly stops herself. “I know this isn’t the real wedding you deserve, and I’m sorry for—”
I shake my head. “Your family has done more than enough for me. And I appreciate Leo’s willingness to…”
I swallow the lump of nerves in my throat.
Leo, the man I will be marrying.
The boy I used to spend my childhood daydreaming about, scribbling his name and mine together in a diary.
The boy who always watched over me, even when he thought I wasn’t looking.
The boy I lo—I shove down my emotions, my heart beating rapidly.
Leo was the boy I had always hoped to marry someday.
But not like this.
Not because of an arrangement or a signed contract. But for love. I sigh, gazing back at the mirror—that dream, along with who I used to be, has slowly sailed away out of reach, lost at sea.
“Leo will be kind to you.” She rummages inside her clutch, taking out a velvet pouch. “You do not need to worry about what you think he expects or wants from you as his wife. He may be a man many fear, but his walls crumble for you. They always have.” She smiles, trying to reassure me of what I’m about to do. Her fingers slip inside the pouch, taking out a delicate silver chain attached to a pear-shaped, blue diamond pendant surrounded by round brilliant diamonds. “This was your mother’s. I gave it to her on her wedding day. Before she passed, she asked me to hold on to it for you. I thought it could be your something blue if you would like.”
My bottom lip quivers, a rush of sensations coming over me. “It’s beautiful.” Thinking of my mother sends a tightness rippling through my chest, and I wish she could be here with me today. I don’t have many memories with her since she died when I was only a little girl, but the ones I do have, I cherish more than anything. “Thank you,” I murmur softly as I scoop up my blonde hair, letting her slide the necklace around my neck and secure the clasp. Without needing or wanting more time to think about things, I don a smile. “I’m ready.”
Thirty minutes later, I walk up the stone steps to the town hall entrance with Mrs. Alarie. As we reach the top, I find Maddy waiting. She appears lost in her phone, a frown on her face that disappears as soon as she spots us.
“Scarlett!” She opens her arms, appearing ready to hug me, but then instantly drops them, clutching her hands before her. A bright smile takes over her face. “You make such a beautiful bride.”
A slight breeze sweeps my hair over my shoulders. “I’m so glad you’re here. I wasn’t expecting anyone else.”
“Of course. I wouldn’t miss this for anything.” She checks the time on her phone. “We should probably get inside. The appointment starts in five minutes.”
The appointment. Just how every girl dreams of referring to her wedding day.
“Well, I’ll head inside and ensure everything is all set,” Mrs. Alarie affirms. She looks at me fondly, almost as if I’m not just some girl she’s giving away on her wedding day but an actual daughter. “Welcome to the family, Scarlett. Officially.” She turns and walks through the large wooden doors, a few people inside quickly moving out of her way, most likely knowing who she is.
“Leo won’t be able to take his eyes off you,” Maddy remarks, waggling her brows.
I look down at myself, second-guessing my dress. “Maybe it’s too much…” My hands pull on the top of the neckline, seeking more coverage. “I should have just worn a simple shirt with pants. I don’t want him to get the wrong idea or think—”
“Oh no.” She shakes her head. “I didn’t mean. Well, what I meant was, Leo won’t… He knows… Shit.” She pinches the bridge of her nose, taking a few breaths. “Can I be honest with you?”
“Yes.”
She drops her hands. “I don’t know what I’m allowed to do or say.”
My brows furrow. “What do you mean?”
“I mean…” She gazes up at the sky and then back at me, letting out a sigh. “I mean that all I want to do is hug my freakin’ best friend on her wedding day, but I don’t know if I’m allowed to or not.” She gives a slight shrug, her eyes watering.
My eyes mirror her own. After seven years apart, she harbors no grudges and still considers me her best friend. Maybe because she knows I never would have willingly left the Alarie Estate. “I think I could really use a hug right now.”
“Yeah?”
I nod. “Yeah.”
Without missing a beat, her slender arms surround me, and I wrap mine around her. This is something I’ve missed. Something my body has been craving—a tender, comforting touch.
“I missed you, Scar,” she whispers against my hair.
“I missed you, too, Maddy.”
We part, and a genuine smile forms on my face for the first time in a while.
“Don’t cry yet.” She wipes her thumb under my eyes. “You don’t want to mess up your makeup.”
I blink a few times, hoping to soak up the moisture. “Do I look okay?”
“You look stunning.” She rolls her lips to the side and clears her throat. “I can’t wait to officially be able to call you my sister.”
“You’re going to make me cry again.” I fan my face with my hands, making us both laugh.
“Come on.” She latches her arm through mine. “Let’s get in there before they start without you. Everyone is waiting.”
I halt. “Everyone?”
“Just the family.”
The family . Soon to be my family.
Leo’s three brothers: Vincenzo, Alessandro, and Mauro.
Deep breath in. Deep breath out.
We enter the drab building, passing lines of people at the nearby counters. A few people in one area argue over parking tickets, while others are bickering over permits.
She quickly pulls me along, her eyes scanning the numbers above the doors. “I know it’s here somewhere… Ah! Here it is.” She wraps her fingers around the chrome doorknob.
Suddenly, the reality of the situation hits me like a ton of bricks. I’m about to marry a man I haven’t seen in seven years. One feared by anyone and everyone… What the hell am I doing? “Wait, Maddy, I don’t think—”
The door swings open, revealing a room full of at least ten people, including four of the most dangerous men in the world. Over the years that I’d been gone, I had heard rumors and rumblings about the Alarie men, their wrath and cruelty, and the power they wielded like a sword, reigning terror down on men they tortured and killed.
And here they stand.
I swallow hard, watching as their familiar eyes land on me. But the only pair of eyes that stand out to me are the dark ones I haven’t seen since I stared out of the passenger window in the back seat of my father’s car, silently praying he would save me.
“I told you Leo wouldn’t be able to take his eyes off you.” Maddy drops her arm, taking a step inside the room.
My heart beats violently like a hundred wild horses stampeding in an open field. The boy I gave my heart to all those years ago stands before me, no longer a boy but an unrecognizable man.
His once smooth face appears replaced with a chiseled jaw and stubble. Black ink peeks out at the top of his white shirt by his collar and appears on his hands, which are currently fisted at his sides. His boyish body is no longer lanky but muscular and lean. Muscles stretch under his shirt, and his black pants appear fitted like a glove over his strong thighs. His thick brown hair is trimmed short on the sides with a slightly longer length on the top.
This isn’t the boy I remember at all.
No, this man before me exudes power, strength, and respect.
He’s a predator in a black suit.
And all I can think is that I’ve made a terrible mistake.
“I’m sorry,” I say in a whispered panic, lifting the hem of my dress. I swiftly leave the room, running across the tiled floor, through the main lobby, and down the twenty steps toward the pavement. I pant as I catch my breath on the sidewalk, spinning on my heels, seeking refuge anywhere. My eyes catch on the woods across the parking lot, where I soon find myself gripping the nearest tree for support, unable to catch my breath.
The sun shining above me suddenly feels too bright.
A coat of sweat drips down my back.
My chest tightens painfully, my breaths coming out in fast pants.
And my poor heart, which has already been through so much, can’t slow down no matter what I do.
A panic attack.
That’s what my therapist, Dr. Raven, told me I had been experiencing day and night for the past several months. But it seemed they were only getting worse as time passed. Even with all of the tips and tricks I had been practicing.
All of the journal notes I had been writing.
All of the music I had been listening to.
All of the—
“Scarlett.”
A deep voice behind me immediately silences my racing thoughts.
Leo.
“We don’t have to do this,” he says. I watch as his shadow stretches over the stray leaves and grass, dominating over mine. Quickly, I turn to look up and find his eyes watching me, locking in on my every move. “I can call this whole thing off right now. I promise to keep you safe whether you’re my wife or not.”
“I…” I look around and realize we’re alone as I grip the tree bark behind me. A good couple of feet lies between us, and he makes no motion to move closer to me. “I was just overwhelmed.” I rest my head against the tree, bringing my hand to my chest and pinching my eyes closed.
“Are you okay?”
I nod shakily. “I just need… I just need a moment.”
This will pass.
Think of something that makes you happy.
Chocolate. Pink flowers. Fireflies.
“Do I scare you?”
His question takes me by surprise.
“N-no,” I lie.
He doesn’t respond, but a rustle of leaves causes my eyes to peek open, and I’m suddenly caught off guard by what I see.
“What are you doing?” I lean forward, my palm on my chest, feeling my heart rate slow down.
He looks up at me from the ground, resting against a nearby tree. “Sitting.”
“But…” I look over his outfit. “You’ll get dirt on your pants.”
He shrugs. “I’m okay with that.”
I blink. Why did he put himself on the ground? A clear disadvantage if…
Oh…
I lower my eyes. “You’re trying to appear smaller than me.”
“Is it working?”
The corners of my lips curve up just slightly. “A little bit.”
“I’ll take it.”
I bend forward, inspecting the bottom of my ruined dress, noting a few pulls and splotches of dirt along the hem. I let out a huff of air. This is not at all what I envisioned for my wedding day. A chuckle leaves me at the insanity of my life, my shoulders shaking from the impact.
Leo’s brows furrow as he watches me, and I abruptly clear my throat, trying to appear okay when I’m clearly not. “I’m sorry for…taking off back there.” My shoulders fall as I wrap my arms around my stomach. “I guess I just wasn’t expecting…” To see the boy of my dreams gone and replaced with a man many fear. But do I fear him? I glance at the lethal predator sitting on the ground like a child in the schoolyard, all so I don’t feel intimidated by his presence, and immediately know the answer to that. No, I don’t. Not one bit. “To see everyone. I haven’t seen anyone except mostly Maddy and your mom these past few months, and I think it just kind of shocked me.”
He gradually stands, coming to his full height. “I told my brothers not to come.” He rubs his hands over the back of his pants, wiping away dirt. “But they wanted to be here for this. For you,” he emphasizes.
I glimpse down at my dress, pulling on a loose thread. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“There’s nothing for you to be sorry for.” I peek up to find him watching me. “You look…” He squeezes the back of his neck, appearing…nervous? “Well, what I’m trying to say is, you look perfect, Scarlett.”
My cheeks heat up. “Thank you.” I smooth out my hair, noting how many pieces have fallen out of place, and no matter how many times I push them back, they won’t stay put.
Leo lifts his hand. “May I?”
I nod.
His fingers gently push back my loose strands; his touch is so soft that I feel like a piece of delicate china he’s trying not to break. Once the pieces are secured behind the barrette, his hand immediately falls to his side, and a sudden chill skates over my skin.
I bite my bottom lip and tip my head toward the town hall. “Do you think… Do you think we can try again?”
“If that is what you want.”
He steps away from me, placing his back to me before stilling. Suddenly, his hand reaches out, and I mistakenly let out a small gasp at the sight of the burn on the back of it. Scarred tissue covers the space over his knuckles and down to his wrist, appearing painful. I don’t remember him having this when we were younger.
“What happened?” I ask softly, instantly regretting my brazenness.
He quickly flips his hand over, palm up, not saying a word as his jaw clenches. He stares ahead, waiting for me to decide if I want to intertwine my fingers with his. I hesitate a few seconds before slowly placing my hand in his. His rough fingers tenderly wrap around mine, remaining that way as he leads us back inside the brick building, inside the room where everyone remains waiting for us. The officiant begins to speak, but his words blur around me while my attention focuses solely on the fact that Leo keeps my hand in his during the entire ceremony, never once letting go.
After the appointment , the seven of us all head to Mrs. Alarie’s home for a family dinner outside in her garden. An autumn breeze skates around me, causing the hem of my dress to dance as I look on at the whimsical space.
On a white wooden table lies an extravagant, lavish spread that looks and smells so good. Bottles of champagne chill in metal buckets on each end of the table. Fairy lights are suspended around the flower beds, with white lanterns dangling from nearby tree branches. And for the centerpiece, there’s a three-tiered white floral cake.
As I take a step, lost in the sight of the decorations, I trip over a stone step and grab the closest thing to me, which happens to be Mauro’s large bicep.
With a heated flush, I recover, standing straight and taking a few steps away. He towers over me by more than a foot. Well, all of the Alarie brothers do. However, where Leo and Alex are lean and muscular, Mauro and Vin are burly with intimidating statures. Clearing my throat, I say, “Sorry. I lost my footing.”
Mauro peers down at me with deep brown eyes and merely grunts before heading to one of the free seats around the table. He’s the only brother here who is not dressed in a suit, but instead, he opted for what appears to be dark tactical clothing. His dark brown hair is much longer than I remember it being years ago and is tied back in a low knot.
I nibble on my lower lip, worried I might have offended him.
“Come sit by me.” Maddy grabs my hand and pulls me to an empty seat beside hers. My hand rests on the back of the chair, and I’m about to pull it out when Leo beats me to it. He drags the chair out and waits for me to sit before pushing me closer to the table. Then, he takes the seat beside mine, scooching his chair a little closer to me than it previously was.
As we all take our seats, Vin taps his crystal glass with his knife and raises it in the air. His eyes catch on me as a warm smile graces his face. “Welcome to the family, Scarlett. I always wanted a sister.”
“Hey!” Maddy chides, making me laugh.
“Oops.” He throws a wink her way and then glances around at his siblings and mother. “To the Alaries.”
“To the Alaries,” they all repeat before sipping their drinks.
“Madeleine,” Vin states, his voice filled with authority. “Where’s Alastor?”
“Oh.” She reaches for the glass of wine before her and quickly empties it. “Being the son of an oil tycoon, he’s constantly being called away on business and, as we speak, is overseas. In fact, he won’t be back until our engagement party.”
“What a shame,” Alex murmurs, pushing up his glasses. His grey eyes roll as he drags a hand through his light brown hair.
The brothers all share a look, and I can sense Maddy’s unease. Maybe they’re just being overly protective, but I’m sure being the only daughter in the family comes with enough challenges.
Reaching for her hand, I say, “I can’t wait to meet him.”
She smiles, but it doesn’t reach her eyes.
The next couple of hours are spent enjoying good food while everyone begins to reminisce, laughing over old memories. Some I was a part of, and others I was not. But as time passes, I start to feel myself suffocating in the presence of too many people.
My skin crawls with a familiar coldness I only ever felt as I lay on the basement floor. My wrists lock on the top of my thighs, feeling an invisible heavy weight rest around them. My lungs begin to close up, ready to end my—
“Do you want to get out of here?”
I jolt from my thoughts, meeting Leo’s eyes, and quickly nod.
He glances around the room. “We’re leaving,” he abruptly announces. I guess that’s the only farewell he’s giving.
All eyes land on me.
“Th-thank you for today,” I say so quietly that I’m not sure they even hear me until Mrs. Alarie responds.
“You’re a part of this family, Scarlett. You always have been. Now, it’s just a little more official.” She smiles warmly, and as I look around at the others, I find them doing the same.
Leo stands and extends a hand toward me, which I take, enjoying the overwhelming sense of safety I experience each time he does this.
He leads us out to his black two-door Mercedes. Knowing how much he loved cars and motorcycles when we were younger, I think it’s safe to assume it’s one of many.
He rushes over to the passenger side and opens the door for me. I slide onto the soft leather seat, dragging the hem of my dress inside the car before Leo shuts the door. Realizing we’re about to be alone, encased in this small space together, I start to tremble, so I clasp my hands together just as Leo takes his place behind the steering wheel. The engine purrs to life as we glide out of the driveway and head toward Leo’s home.
Or, well, I guess, our home.
As I stare at the elegant diamond-coated platinum wedding band, now encircling the fourth finger on my left hand, I try to think of something to say. Anything to say so that the silence between us doesn’t feel so stifling. Maybe I could talk about the weather? No. Maybe about his car? But I don’t actually know much about cars. How work has been going? I internally cringe, thinking better of it. One, because most of what the Alaries do is illegal, and two, because, as witnessed by the estate we’re driving through, business has been quite lucrative while I’ve been away.
It’s evident that for the past seven years, while I’ve been holed up in a tiny studio apartment, working a minimum wage job at the local bookstore, trying to acquire a sense of independence and freedom…the Alaries thrived. Becoming even more powerful than one would ever imagine.
Revered by many and feared by all.
So, why did Leo never come find me?
Peeking at his profile, I take in his unreadable expression. A flush spreads up my neck and over my cheeks as I suddenly wonder if he ever thinks about the last time we saw each other. I know I do. How could I not when it filled all the space in my heart, easily becoming my favorite memory? The one I use to get me out of my dark thoughts and horrid dreams. And I question if that moment meant as much to him as it did to me. Should I ask him? My lips part, the question on the tip of my tongue, but embarrassment causes me to slam my lips shut.
Don’t be ridiculous. Of course, he doesn’t think about that moment between us. Not anymore. Not after everything that happened to me.
I pinch my eyes shut, inhaling deeply.
Strumming my fingers on my knee, I can’t take it anymore and spit out the first thing that comes to mind.
“Mauro was quiet tonight. I don’t think I heard him say one word.” I let the corners of my lips curve up just the slightest bit. “When we were kids, I remember him talking your ear off.”
Leo’s fingers tighten around the steering wheel. “I forgot you left before…well.” He quickly glances at me and then back toward the road. “Mauro can’t speak.”
“What?” My heart thuds. Did I hear him correctly? “What do you mean?”
“Seven years ago, when the bomb went off at the warehouse, the one that…killed my father.” He swallows hard. “Mauro, Dolion, and I were with him, except I was standing by the car when Mauro was right behind him, entering the warehouse.” He shakes his head, clearly lost in the memory of that tragic event.
I remember that night so clearly. What had started as the best night of my life soon quickly turned into tragedy as I was dragged out of bed by my father, who told me we needed to leave because the Alarie Estate was under attack and it was no longer a safe place for us. I begged him to let me stay, but my pleas went on deaf ears. So I packed a bag, got in the car, and stared out the window in a fog as we drove one last time through the estate, right out the front gates as we passed…Leo.
That week, the loss of the head of the Alarie family made every headline in the world.
And I wasn’t there for them.
For him.
Guilt consumes me.
“The doctors tried everything they could, but his vocal cords were too far damaged,” he says. “He can grunt. I’ve become pretty familiar over the years with what each grunt means, and occasionally, if he really needs to say something, he can whisper one word, but it’s painful for him to do so.”
“Oh my God.” I shake my head, feeling my eyes moisten. “I had no idea. I feel like such an idiot.”
Leo reaches for my hand, intertwining our fingers, his thumb gently stroking my skin. “He’s okay.”
I look out the window beside me, noting the darkness creeping over the landscape. “It must be really lonely.”
“What must be?”
“Having no one to talk to,” I answer, remembering every moment in that basement that I wished I had someone there with me. Someone to help push me to keep fighting.
“Mom tried to get him to take ASL lessons, and he did for a little while, learning the basics. We all did so we could talk to him. But then, for whatever reason, he just stopped.”
I glance at our joined hands, sadness creeping up my chest as I only begin to realize what happened here after my father dragged me away.
My eyes scan the scars on the back of Leo’s hand, the one not completely covered in black ink.
“That happened the same day,” he reveals, stretching his hand. “I tried to reach for my father when a ball of fire fell on it.”
With a magnetic force pulling me, I gently touch his scar, tracing it. He flinches, surprised, but then relaxes, letting me explore. My fingers lightly trail over the scarred tissue, wanting to heal him.
“Does it repulse you?” he asks.
I shake my head. “Not at all. I’m just sorry that this happened to you.”
And I silently wonder, in a mixture of anxiety and vulnerability, what he’ll think if he ever sees my scars. Will they disgust him? Will he never look at me in the same way? It’s one thing for a man in his position to have scars or imperfections, but for women like me, it’s something entirely different.
“We never did find who was responsible for that day,” he admits so quietly that I’m unsure if he’s talking to himself or me. “I should have done something differently. Maybe if I—” He clears his throat, his grip tightening on the wheel. Does he feel guilty for what happened to his father? “If Dolion hadn’t pulled me away before the whole place went down, I probably wouldn’t be here.”
A shiver runs down my spine, and I quickly rid my head of what could have been.
“Dolion?” The name sounds familiar, but I can’t put a face to it. “Do I know him?”
“Probably not. He grew up on the property, but mostly kept to himself, training with the other soldiers. He’s one of my right-hand men now.” He turns down a hidden driveway in the woods. “You’ll meet him and the rest of my men soon enough. I want to make sure you…see all of their faces and know who each one of them is.”
See all of their faces.
My cheeks heat up, knowing the hidden message.
Because I never saw his face.
Only his eyes.
Bright green like a lethal acid.
The car comes to a stop before a giant black stone structure.
I incline forward in my seat to get a better view. “This is your home?” I ask, completely stunned at the enormity.
It’s similar to his parents’ house in the chateau style but darker and more intimidating. Vines grow up the side of the house with black flowers peeking through. Grandiose trees stand as tall as the house, surrounding it as if guarding it from the outside world. Flying buttresses extend from the upper portion to a pillar. The whole house carries a medieval aesthetic that sends a shiver down my spine.
“Yes. I had it built a few years ago.” He runs his fingers through his hair. “I know it looks a tad bit overwhelming, but it’s—”
“Home,” I answer for him with a slight smile.
He nods before exiting the car and making his way to my door. The second I stand, I feel a pinch in my toes.
“Ow.” I lift my foot, shaking it from side to side. I never was a fan of wearing heels, and it seems my poor feet have swollen in these beautiful death traps.
“Your feet hurt,” Leo observes.
“I’m fine,” I tell him, even though he’s right, and I’ve been waiting all day to whip these off.
“Let me carry you.”
I take a step back, pressing myself directly against the car. “W-what?”
He rubs the back of his neck. “I don’t want you to hurt yourself walking in those things for another moment longer.”
I look down at my feet, examining the redness displayed on my skin, giving away my agony. I nod, about to take one step toward him, when he fills in the space, wrapping his arms around me and bringing me up to his chest.
Just like he had done months ago.
“Glad to see you’ve put on some weight,” he notes, carefully stepping up the stairs.
“It’s rude to comment on a woman’s weight,” I tease, trying to downplay the nerves swarming inside me at our close proximity.
He laughs. “I only meant…you look like you.”
Warmth spreads up my neck as we approach the front door decorated with black-stained windows. “Okay, I can walk now.”
“Oh, come on, like I’m not going to take the opportunity to walk you over the threshold.”
Butterflies collide in my stomach as he scans the palm of his hand against a black tablet. The solid metal door slowly swings open for us, and he walks us through the entrance, gently placing me before him.
Instantly, I bend down to unlace my shoes, but Leo stops me.
“Let me,” he says, kneeling before me. My heart hammers in my chest as he gracefully undoes the first shoe and then slides it off my foot. After he does the same to the second shoe, his fingers linger, and I wonder what it might feel like if he started to rub my feet…
No. I internally shake my head, taking a step back as he stands. I have to tilt my chin up to look at him with my heels no longer on.
“I’ll show you around.” He walks away, and I follow behind him, my eyes widening at the high ceilings and immense space.
“Down this hall is my office, and the theater room is directly across from it. Over here is the kitchen and the living room.” He points across the room to a large door. “That’s the formal dining room. It’s not used often. Mostly for family gatherings or special events.” He turns toward the sliding glass door. “And this is the deck.”
As I take a step outside, my mouth falls open.
The stone deck is wrapped in a short glass shield that stands a few feet tall, not obstructing the view of the massive lake before it. Plants line almost every surface, bringing a natural jungle vibe. An infinity pool stretches across the center. Plenty of seating is stationed around a fire pit. And a large swing that looks like a giant bed waits for me to lie on it and gaze up at the stars currently shining brightly.
“This is amazing,” I breathe.
“I thought you might like it.”
Turning, I find his eyes scanning over the dark lake, appearing almost lost in a memory. Like a beautiful water portrait, the full moon reflects off the water’s surface.
He clears his throat, facing me. “It’s getting late. Let me show you the bedroom.”
My stomach plummets.
I knew what would come at the end of this day.
I knew the wedding night tradition that might be expected of me.
But I wasn’t ready then.
And I’m not ready now.
Wrapping my arms around myself, I follow him inside and up the black metal stairs, tension radiating through every pore in my body.
Leo is my husband, who has promised to keep me safe. The least I can do is give myself to him. To the man who saved me.
I can do this.
I can do this.
I can do this.
My heart thuds beneath my chest like a snare drum.
Sweat builds on my forehead.
My body trembles in fear, and my eyes water with unshed tears.
I can’t do this, I realize as we approach a large black door .
Clearing my throat, I murmur, “Leo, I don’t think—”
“Place your hand on this.” Leo points to a steel tablet on the wall next to the door handle, identical to the one on the outside of the house. I do as he says, and the second my skin touches the material, a tiny vibration runs through me, and then it finishes with a low chime.
“This is your room,” he states. The door opens, revealing a large space with a white bed, a pink area rug, dark wood floors, and industrial-looking pieces of furniture. It’s exactly what I would design for myself. “Only your hand and my hand will open this door with recognition.”
“My room?” I ask in confusion.
“Yes.”
I’m relieved—in more words than I can say—that he isn’t expecting to share a room with me. But I’m also feeling…disappointed?
No. That can’t be right.
“There’s an en-suite bathroom in the back and a small garden on the attached balcony for you.”
I look up at him, trying to think of anything to say, but words have escaped me.
“Well,” he starts. “It’s been a long day for both of us, so I’m going to bed.”
I’m going to bed.
I take a deep breath, knowing the insinuation in his words.
It’s time.
He pivots toward the room across the hall, and I follow close behind him, ready to get this over with. As the door to his room opens, he suddenly comes to a stop and turns around to find me directly before him.
“Is something wrong?” he asks, furrowing his brows.
“No.” I swallow my nerves down. “I’m ready.”
“Ready for what?”
I peer up at him and incline my head toward his room, letting out a rush of air.
His eyes darken, narrowing in on me before he closes them, taking a deep breath. His shoulders, which were tense just seconds ago, drop. “Firefly.” My heart does a little flip at the use of my old nickname. The one only he used on me. His eyes open, appearing softer. “We’re not sleeping together.”
“Oh,” I let out, humiliation coursing through my veins. “I’m sorry. I just assumed I was supposed to—”
“I’m not going to touch you.” His words come out forceful, engraving themselves on every part of me. “I will never touch you unless…” He shakes his head. “No. I won’t touch you. Not like that.”
My cheeks flush as I take a step back.
He doesn’t want me.
Can’t say that I blame him.
But I should feel relieved.
So, why don’t I?
Why do I, instead, only feel the sting of rejection?
What’s wrong with me?
You’re not normal. That’s what’s wrong with you.
“Of course,” I rush out, looking over my shoulder toward my door. “I’m going to bed then. Thank you for today and for this.” I gesture around the house as I walk backward. “I-I’m sorry for assuming—”
“You don’t have to fear me, Scarlett.” He watches me cautiously before he turns and enters his room. Right before his door closes behind him, he looks over his shoulder and adds, “You’re probably the only person with that privilege.”