The Substitute Husband

Chapter one

Charmiene

He had no business being here , not in my life, not in my heart and definitely not tonight on my wedding eve.

What are you doing here Malihor. I say to him grabbing my crimson satin robe from my bed. Longing and petulance neatly mixed in my voice.

As I dress myself I feel his intense gaze on me. I look up to meet that gaze and I see that his bambi eyes are teary and he is biting his lower lip. He looks like a child ,one that had finally found what he had been searching for.

He ignores my question and instead he walks close to me. His steps are refined and deliberate. And his eyes never leave mine. As he covers the space between us I can't control the desires that are eminent in my heart. I want to hug him, kiss him. I want him to touch me ,feel me. I want him to do whatever he wants to me .I want to yield to him if he would do the same for me.

I've come to get my bride. He says to me, His rich baritone voice fills my ears ,his breath is cold and minty and I want to taste his tongue.

We're no longer betrothed to each other. Ammitel Aetheris is my soon to be husband. Please leave Malihor. I say to him,

It was only right for me to send him away now before things escalated. Although sick with resistant tuberculosis, Ammitel Aetheris held the whole of New York. He was the political God and true ruler of New York. Every politician answered to him , even the president. He was a formidable force we couldn't fight against. Eloping with Malihor was all my heart wanted but I knew better. Ammitel would find us and kill us ,then my father and my whole family. I won't let my passion stop me from fulfilling my duty.

Look me in the eye and tell me you want me to leave and I will. He says.

I try as hard as I can but I can't look him in the eye. Tears well up in my eyes and before I know what's happening he pulls me in a forced embrace. I try to fight him as well as myself. I try to talk morality into my wild heart but none of that works. I long for him. My whole being acknowledges that.

What are we going to do? They'll kill us. I say to him in-between sobs. He holds me firmer, pressing my head against his heart. I hear it beating loud and hard. He's afraid and so am I.

I was about to start a propaganda,a little disobedience to my father for us but your mother gave me a better idea. I have everything sorted out. We will travel to Malaysia and lie low for a bit.

What do you mean my mother?. I ask him looking up to meet his gaze.

Diana called me here , she's how I could evade your father's men and come right here for you. He says

Joy fills my heart, since the marriage proposal came my mother had been quiet she stopped coming out of her room and was practically invisible. I didn't know what she thought about all of it. But now hearing she wanted me to elope with the love of my life gave me hope. She was the best step mother I could ever ask for.