Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

"I'll definitely get your heart, Jerlina..."

Jerlina tried to pretend that she didn't hear it. But in the silence of the autumn night, where even the dogs and insects went silent for that moment, his voice, soft as a baby's breath, was heard as a rolling thunder in her ears.

  She didn't mean to let him know that she heard it, but she did, unconsciously. His eyes, sharp as a wolf's, bore a hole right into her soul. She felt cornered and marked by him. Her heart raced and her breathing got difficult.

"You're still on it even after I refused?" she asked with her voice now turned hoarse. 

"Yes," his eyes softened. He extended his hand and his finger reached her forehead, but he stopped getting closer. 

Is it because he said he won't touch me without my consent?

"So, prepare to be courted, my wife!" he said with a slight smirk. 

Jerlina once again felt that heaviness in her heart. The burden of his deep love... 

But she won't lie... In the corner of her heart, a small sprout of joy and pride reared its head. 

Who wouldn't like to be admired this much, right? 

"So what? You'd take me to fancy restaurants and nice places? You'd splurge money on me and sink me with gifts?" she asked. 

This was her understanding of courting. Some girls she knew, who were in the early stages of dating, talked about the gifts the guy they are seeing gave them. And once their relationship didn't go the way they wanted, most guys acted as if they wasted their money on them. 

She knew spending money on her would not make her feel good and she'd feel like she is holding a ticking timebomb.

"I am not going to reveal my secret weapon," he smiled brightly. "You won't know what hit you."

"Oooh! I am scared now, Joel," she laughed to provoke him. She was definitely intrigued.

"Laugh all you want, Milady. I'll win over your heart. But the ball's in your court and only you can end this," He said closing his eyes. He knew she is not a conventional woman and conventional methods won't work on her. He has to touch her heart in other ways.

She thought he'd get offended and spill the beans, but he was closing his eyes with a smile. And she felt wide awake thinking what he meant. 

What ball? I want no ball in no court!   

"So what's the endpoint here, Joel? We are already legally married. Is it when we consummate?" she asked. 

She noticed his eyebrows twitching a bit and she felt happy that he is disturbed.

"Who knows?" he opened his eyes and looked at her. And then his lips curved to a smirk. She wanted him to speak no more, but he did. "Maybe, making love would be one of my courting techniques..." he wiggled his middle finger and ring finger in front of her face. "I'm good at this... And so, no. It is not the end point."

Jerlina wanted to say he has no chance of getting inside her pants, but her recent behaviors didn't give her much confidence. And seeing his wiggling fingers made her feel something in her abdomen; something that is familiar.

In her defense, he has the perfect fingers for fingering. She closed her eyes.

Those long, manly fingers inside her teasing her G- spot... If he used his mouth along with his fingers and those blue eyes occasionally meeting my eyes...

Hmm!

An involuntary moan escaped her throat as her entire body warmed up. She realized what she had done and sneakily opened her eyes to see if he had noticed. But he was closing his eyes and seemed to be asleep. 

Ah, Jerlina... Who's the depraved one? What are you even doing? Daydreaming this? Just stop it!

She felt hot and stuffy inside the duvet. She couldn't sleep and so she jumped out of the bed and walked to the balcony to get some fresh air.

She saw the planter by the door and her heart got hit with a pang of guilt. She started to feel cold. She didn't know why, but she felt guilty. Her heart, felt heavy as if an anvil is resting on it.

Baby, I didn't forget you... I will never forget you... 

Jeremy with a smile watched her jumping out of the bed. He wanted to sleep with her, but only after getting her heart. But it seems like she is disturbed by his teasing.

It is good for me! 

But then she walked to the balcony and he watched her sitting beside the rose bush. Her perfect fingers were caressing the leaves of the rose bush.

He felt like someone hit his head with a hammer. She might still be blaming him for the loss of her child. She might not say it, but she might keep it in her heart. 

What should I do? 

I still can't give up on her!

-----

In the morning, Jerlina woke up to a nice aroma of coffee.

"Rise and shine, Honeybuns!" Jeremy's voice was chirpy and he was dressed. 

. She stayed on the balcony for some time and got back in. She had a pretty good sleep. When she woke up in the middle of the night, she was snuggling Jeremy. She tried to slowly get out, but she couldn't and in the end, she fell asleep once more. 

She checked the time and it was already nine in the morning

It's morning already?

Rubbing her eyes, Jerlina sat up and he placed the bed table over her lap. There was a smiley face toast, a mug of coffee, and a single red rose.

It did put a smile on her face... The rose! 

"What is this? Breakfast on the bed? What's special today?" she asked. "Let me brush my teeth first..." she got down from the bed.

"I just wanted to..." he walked behind her. "I have some work and you don't have to go to the office today... Just take rest or go for a walk or something... We just got married yesterday and people will tear you apart if you go out today."

"Ah, yes," she paused from sitting on the toilet seeing him peaking inside. "Get out," she pushed the chuckling guy out and locked the door. 

"Don't forget your breakfast made with love~" he spoke in a sing-song manner and she heard her bedroom door closing. 

"What am I going to do today," she rubbed her head sitting on the toilet. 

She knew he is right. If Scarlett would question her, others would be as enthusiastic as her. A lot of questions would be directed at her and it would be hard to navigate it all. 

Even I didn't think about it at all... How could he be this considerate! 

And breakfast in bed with a rose... Wow!

Wait... is this his secret weapon?

Why am I falling for it?