Chapter 31: Out of this world

MAVERICK'S P.O.V

We had gotten to the venue for the wedding later than the bride and her family. Well, the good thing was that they didn't wait so long for us and it will only be just our families as guests. I made sure nobody but them knew about the wedding except my P.A Maya. Besides, she reads my emails and texts and has obviously read the ones from my mother. I made sure to remind my mother that I wanted a very hidden venue, no matter where she was picking, it had to be as hidden as possible. Thank God she listened to me this time, my mom always did just what she felt like doing or what she wanted to do. 

When we arrived at the place, my family and I went over to meet with Natalie's family. Her mother looked so well dressed, her dress a beautiful purple dress that accentuated her woman figure. Unlike my mother, Natalie's mother is a bit wider. She looked so young too. Her blonde hair was beautiful and it lay just above her shoulders. Natalie's friend, the one I saw before in the club, stood beside Natalie's mother with a beautiful smile. They all looked so happy to see us, to commence the wedding. I didn't get to see Natalie, she sat behind her mother while the woman stood in front of her, from the course of their discussion, she reminded my mother how it was said that the groom is not to see the bride before the altar, I just wonder who the fuck made that stupid rule. I remember not being able to see Ruth on our wedding day before we got to church. She was so beautiful the moment I saw her begin to walk down the aisle while I stood there at the altar waiting for my beautiful bride. She wore the best smile I had ever seen and just standing there beside Levi, I pictured Ruth, standing and smiling with her veil. It still felt like yesterday. 

Levi tapped my shoulder, taking me off my thoughts. I should stop thinking about Ruth at a wedding where I'm about to get married to Natalie. Natalie doesn't deserve it. Now, thinking about it, I suddenly became so eager to see Natalie, to see what she looked like in a wedding dress. Initially, I had no expectations except nervousness, but now, seeing her parents and her friend, I began to expect and look forward to seeing my bride. My bride? It sounded funny and weird thinking about Natalie as my bride. I don't know what it was but there was this weird part of me that screamed happiness, and couldn't wait to have Natalie as my wife. I was weird, but that feeling was strong and I didn't like it. Especially because I knew she didn't and didn't want to get married to me. I didn't want to get married to a woman who didn't like me in any form, it was infuriating. Women usually don't say no to me, Ruth couldn't even face me to say a proper goodbye to me. The feeling of being rejected is an exasperating one.

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Marching into the church with the classical playing out was boring. Soon after our families were seated, it was time for the bride to come in. While we waited, I thought of so many things like; will Natalie ever be in love with me? Or will she hate me forever? Anyway, I do not care about that, whether she falls in love with me or not, that wasn't my business, I didn't really care.  I just wanted to be done with all the wedding stuff and go home. Mom had already said I'll take her home to my house. I don't know why it had to be my house, wasn't it too early? What am I supposed to be doing with her at my duplex, because I'm not taking her to the penthouse. My penthouse was a place I usually go to clear my head and be alone, I can't take her there. Plus, she needed company too, so, the servants at the duplex will serve as good company to her. 

When she began to come in with her father by her side, she appeared like an angel from heaven. Her down was all designed with diamonds and all, she looked so beautiful. My breath hitched when she came closer to the altar. She looked like a goddess, and more beautiful than anything I'd seen before. "Are you sure this is the Natalie you met before?" I asked myself, adjusting my collar a little bit.

She stood in front of me looking all beautiful, timid, and hot at the same time. My cork twisted in my pants as I swallowed some saliva. Looking at her gave my body an excitement I didn't want to have. This woman is young and she doesn't want to marry me clearly, but she is fine and somehow, my hormones just don't regret accepting to marry her. Her face was hung down after we made eye contact, I guess she was shy and couldn't withstand my beauty. 

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"Do you Mr. Maverick Marcus Santiago take Natalie Tores as your lawful wedded wife, to love and to cherish, in sickness and health, till death do you part?" The Reverend asked, looking up at me. Why did my mother add my middle name? Most people didn't know I bore Marcus, only a few people like my family and close friends. Especially those I went to college with. I was almost tempted to say no, in fact, I was going to say no because I hate how she was making my body react. Not even Ruth made my hormones jump that badly. I looked at my mother, she looked so happy, and her mother was wiping her eyes. Then I heard myself saying  "I do". That was it, finally, I was married again. 

I watched her say I do carefully, the reluctance in her voice, I wish she said no but she didn't. When we exchanged the rings, her hands were shaking. They were also moist. I was almost thinking the ring would fall off her hand because it trembled so much as she slipped it into my finger. 

"..........You may now kiss the bride," the Reverend announced. A part of me couldn't wait to unveil her, and the other part just didn't care about any of that. But, I moved closer to unveil my bride, to see the beauty before me. She was trembling, I did feel her shaky hands. And for the first time, I saw her face really closely. She had a small oval face with small round-shaped lips. Her nostrils were a small pointed ones. She was beautiful and her eyes screamed fear and fire, begging to be loved yet ready to burn me to ashes. She was looking at me after I unveiled her. Probably waiting for me to kiss her so she would punch my face. But her beauty was one out of this world. At that moment I felt the world stop, I didn't think about Ruth, I just stared at her unwillingly. Everyone was waiting for the wedding kiss. As much as her lips called after me to take care of them, I also wished the feeling was mutual. I wanted her to be the one begging me to kiss her, I wanted her to want me badly.