"Do you know what I hate the most?"
Nathaniel scowled, taking a step further, I stumbled upon my wedding dress, breaths tightening around my throat.
My heart pounding at an incomprehensible rate met his piercing emerald gaze.
I swallowed hard, pressing my back on the wall, trying to avoid the judgment he will place upon me.
"Pathetic people like you." He hissed, his strong form, hovering over mine.
I timidly bore my raven eyes into his exquisite emerald ones, the strands of his brown hairs falling on his face.
It was an unbelievable emotion coming from me- powerlessness.
How can I, Zariah Ezekiel, be weak? By a mere man?
"T-That not it."
"Hmm? It's not?" He hummed.
Leaning his face to my neck while not removing his spellbinding gaze from mine.
His one hand was on the wall while the other held my chin, forcing me to face his dangerous presence.
"You are wrong."
"Then why the fuck are you here?" His tone changed into a scowl, making a fist.
"I.. I..."
He buried his face on my neck, letting out a suppressed laugh.
"Oh, I forgot, what was your name again?" He asked, giving me an indirect glare.
Swallowing hard, I whispered, "Zariah..."
His lips grazed my skin as he gradually moved upward, emerging goosebumps from me.
"Zariah what?" He asked, wrapping the finger on my chin to my neck.
"Zariah Alroy." I said breathlessly.
'I never thought behind the façade of gallantry, a beast would reside. He is no longer the man I knew.
He is not my Nathaniel.'
"Exactly."
His tone abruptly turned into a dominant one as he pulled away, icily gazing at me, stealing my senses and breaths.
"Zariah Alroy. The wife of Nathaniel Alroy."
"I-I am sorry.." I said in a croaked voice.
Curling my hands in a fist over the wedding dress which was no less than a shackle for me. That was not how I imagined our reunion but then again.
He no longer remembered me.
"What good could this apology do huh?" He scoffed, moving away from me as I regained my lost breath.
"I thought you were different but no, you are pathetic as always."
His voice was low and utterly heartless, devoid of emotion.
A tear rolled down my cheek and I lost my strength and fell on my knees. This was not how I wanted you, this was not what I imagined.
You are not him. You can never be him.
Disgusted by my action, he took a step closer, looking down at me with one firm order.
"Stand up. You are my wife, such vulnerability doesn't suit you."
"I don't want to..." I remained motionless, shivering violently.
I never thought this would happen on my wedding night but I had no choice but to be a slave of his commands and do whatever he told me.
I must.
"Didn't you hear me? Stand. Up."
I gathered my quivering form and stood up, "Good."
"Now then, dearest wife. If you want to live peacefully with me,"
He stopped mid-sentence, putting his hands on either side of me, sending unnerving shivers to my core.
"You better stop being weak."
His face was too close to mine, brushing his lips as I convulsed endlessly.
"I had no choice, My legion needs your help. We need your help." I told him, holding the hem of my dress.
"Don't give me this crap." He hissed.
The closeness was too much for me to bear, my soul almost gave up on me, a total mess.
"It was your decision." He snarled, lips dangerously close to mine.
"You were enticed by the title of a Queen." He mocked, smirking darkly.
"I never asked you to marry me." I whispered, turning my head away but he didn't allow me.
"But you couldn't resist either." He smirked darkly, speaking the undesirable truth.
The tip of his fingers traced the side of my face and brought it down. My breath hitched, I pressed my palm against the wall.
"Why are you startled?" He asked in a seductive tone, reaching my level.
"It's our wedding night after all."
His hand probed my body, ready to devour me, "I strongly believe you know what a couple does on their wedding night."
I shut my eyes, fidgeting my fingers around my dress, knowing the magical effect his voice has on me but I have to do something.
"Get away."
I barely whispered but he took it as some sort of amusement to some sinister intentions as he closed the gap between us.
"Why?" He asked faintly, taking a strand of my hair in his hand and stroking it.
"It's what you always desired after all." He said deadpanned, staring intently at my eyes. Lost against his immense power, I couldn't do anything.
"P-Please."
He contemplated my form and his other hand traced the side of my face.
Trembles were invoked in me by his action, panting by his mere touch.
"Please what?" He asked sternly, moving his hand down to my neck.
"Stop." I quickly said as a tear pricked in my eyes.
"It's unusual to see a puppet filled with such emotions." He jeered, traveling his eyes down, making my heart skip a beat.
"No, not a puppet but..."
His gaze stopped again at my eyes.
"A doll." He whispered.
Pressing his lower body with mine, heat emerging from his body traveled in mine.
With a shallow breath, I synchronize my heartbeat with his as those heartless eyes preyed upon me.
"Your... doll?"
I unintentionally whispered back. His lips curved upward from one side in a pernicious way.
"That's right. My doll." My lips parted with desire when he emphasized 'My'.
"But, you know what, Zari?" He said with one hand holding my waist firmly while cupping my cheek with another and the sound of my breath mixed with his filled the absence of sound.
'Zari... Do you still remember this name? Am I still 'Zari' for you?'
"I want my doll to be fearless."
My grip on his shirt tightened as I replied hurriedly, "It only exists for you."
Amusingly, he raised an eyebrow, "For me? Why?" He asked.
It was nerve-wracking but desirable too. But he made his own assumption and said, lifting my chin.
"I believe a delicate princess of her father couldn't bear a rough man."
The allure of his voice made me weak to my knees. By the unbearable passion, cold sweat rolled down my forehead.
"No," My voice came out like a screech which made him growl.
A soft gasp left my lips as I looked at him in dread, swallowing hard, noticing my expressions.
It fueled his anger but soon was replaced by his darkness as he said with a glint of malevolence.
"No...?" He smirked, turning me around.
Sliding his fingers around my laces before untying them while pressing his muscular chest over my back to amplify the seduction.
"Then what's with this reaction, Sweetheart?"
He teased me, slipping his finger insides, tracing over my skin tenderly.
"P-Please."
I didn't understand how I can act like a wimp in his presence.
"Ah, don't please me yet."
He smirked, sinking his lips on my skin, his hand moved around my exposed waist, sucking my skin.
I unwillingly moaned, trying to resist his charm but he laughed in return, keeping me in place.
"I haven't even shown you..."
His tempting tone wrapped around my neck, growling, completing his sentence.
"My beastly side yet."
My heart skipped a beat when he said it, he considered my frantic senses a measly start?
"Nathaniel, Don't."
I shook my head, turning to him but he cupped my cheek.
"Shh, Shh, Don't be terrified just yet, I will be gentle tonight."
He smiled, kissing my cheeks but I knew how rough his 'gentle' can be.
"How is this going to work if you agitate easily? Aren't you the unbreakable? The strongest?" He whispered, flickering all his desire he planned to burst.
"You do this to me." I replied, looking away.
"Aw, my wife can't handle her man, hmm?" He teased, undressing me slowly while I remained still, drowning in the ocean of his mysterious eyes.
"I don't want you to break this effortlessly."
And at this point, I knew I have chosen hell.
He will break me beyond redemption, leading me to the bed before loosening his tie and throwing his coat, hovering over me.
I gasped, trying to crawl back having no escape from this monster of my darkest night.
"Don't worry, love. I will teach you." He said seductively, before capturing my body with his indescribable charm.
"How to be my perfect doll."
And I was utterly powerless before my lust, my zeal, unable to tell him the decision of entering his life wasn't forced, rather I chose it...
