Chapter IV

I stood at the foot of the bed, following Salvatore with my eyes as he was taking off his jacket just few feet away. He was still silent and I had no idea what to do with myself. Should I undress or just wait? Or perhaps run and lock myself in the bathroom just as I wanted before?
“What are you waiting for?” He turned around to face me, frowning. My face blushed even more and I had to look away from him. What struck me was the holster with two guns that right now Salvatore was taking out, laying them on the nightstand. Was it some kind of treat? Because it certainly was working.
I moved to the tall mirror that hung on the closet and with trembling fingers I started undoing all the pins that held my flower crown and veil but I was failing miserably as my arm was in pain and I was shaking. With no time, my husband made his way towards me and I felt his radiating heat as he stood behind me.
“Let me.” He said somehow softly, moving away my hands. His fingers were moving skilfully in my hair, painlessly taking out all the pins up to the point where my head was free of all decorations. I trembled – but this time it wasn’t in fear nor disgust – as he moved his fingers through my locks, untangling them gently, his pads caressing my scalp occasionally. All the time I had my eyes on him through the mirror but he has his too focused on what he was doing.
I wandered why I felt this way. In my head there still were crazy images that Astrid planted and despite them and fear that I had for him, this magic power he has over me was overtaking. I had goosebumps and my heart was beating faster because of his closeness. I felt so doubt and foolish because of that but at the same time I couldn’t just deny it. Maybe after all Astrid was just lying to scare me. She seemed like that kind of person.
“You are truly beautiful. I have thought so ever since I met you.” Salvatore said quietly, moving my wild hair to one shoulder before he started undo the countless tiny buttons on the back of my dress. Once again I tensed, just thinking how exposed I would be in matter of minutes. Underneath the dress there was nothing but white lacy corset, knickers and stockings, all that Bianca has chosen for me on this embarrassing shopping trip that we had a week earlier in preparation for the wedding.
Before I got time to prepare myself, the dress dropped to the floor, pooling around my feet. This moment I wanted nothing more but the ground to swallow me. I cursed myself for not having any will power to argue or to run and I just simply stood there, my eyes fixed in Salvatore’s blue ones. His – surprisingly – warm hand moved up my side and rested on my stomach. I could blush even more if it was possible – standing there in nothing but a skim corset made out of tiny embroidered flowers, with shallow cups that made all the justice to my breast and wide pale-pink ribbon wrapped around my middle and matching panties made out of satin with the same flowers on the sides. It was truly a piece of art – that I would expect it to be, looking at the price tag that said almost 2000$ - and I felt nice wearing this. But not enough to show it to a strange man.
Husband or not – Salvatore was a stranger. When power came back to me finally, I looked away from him, lifting my hands up to cover myself as good as I could.
“You have no idea how long I dreamd of this. To finally have you, be able to claim you mine.” His whisper made the chill run down my spine. So this was it. He would just do what he wished and I had no saying in it. Even thought I tried to prepare myself for this all this time – there was no chance I could.
I know how he likes it.
Astrid’s voice run through my head, making me squeeze my eyes shut. I was almost getting dizzy from this all. I just wanted this to be over for one and for all.
Salvatore’s hand moved what made my eyes snap open. His long fingers moved to the rounded harsh pink scar that was decorating my pale skin, and he run them ever so slightly over the surface, made me bit my lip. It didn’t hurt – wasn’t necessarily pleasant too since it was so sensitive though it has more to do with him, how intimidate his touch was.
“But not tonight.” He stated and just like that he moved away to the chair where he left his suit so he could proceed undressing. I was speechless for the moment, processing what just happened.
“Don’t look so shocked, Christine. I may be a monster and one can say many things about me but I’m not a rapist.” Salvatore said simply, his voice back to its cold note. “You should go get change for sleep instead of standing there. You are barely dressed, you will catch a cold and we wouldn’t like that.” He smirked and just by the time he was undoing his shirt, I snapped at him and quickly run to the bathroom.
I took way longer in the shower then I usually did, taking my time to somehow process everything. It was grateful for what Salvatore did but it brought so much questions at the same time. For one there was what Astrid said banging in the back of my head, but that I tried to push away, and for what was more important – what about consummating our marriage? Tomorrow morning they will demand sheets and there would be no blood so they would be all mad. I could almost see my father’s angry face when he learns that Salvatore didn’t lay his hand on me. I could already hear in my head him blaming me for this. Even though in my own opinion it was crazy to feel so strongly about sex – for my father and also rest of both our families it wasn’t.
Still shaking a bit from the awful realisation, I got out of the shower and after drying myself I put on a white, cotton nightgown. It was really simple with only few pieces of lace and ribbon, reaching above my knees. That moment I was more then happy that I wasn’t all that helpless and packed something more than skimpy sleepwear that Bianca put into my suitcase.
On my tip toes I walked back to the room that was almost dark, lit only by a small lamp on the side table on Salvatore’s side. Covers of the bed were all pulled to its edge, reviling the snow-white sheets. Salvatore on the other hand stood just at the doors, still in his pants, white shirt hanging open showing off his way too perfect front. Without a word he slipped into the bathroom and closed the doors behind him.
I made my way towards the bed and climbed onto it, freezing in spot as the bright, red stain in the middle caught my attention. I moved closer to examine it and involuntary gasp left my lips. It was blood stain. It was paler and thinner then blood that would be drown out of someone but it certainly was it.
Could it be that Salvatore made this to fake that we actually had sex? There was no other reasonable explanation thought it surprised me – yes, Salvatore showed me nothing but kindness but I wouldn’t expect that.