BPOV
The limo ride back to the estate was filled with kisses and I love yous and I loved the feeling of being in his arms.
"Ahh my little Bella, how you please me" he cooed to me as he kissed my neck and sucked on my ear lobe making me moan in delight
"I love how that feels Demetri, don't stop" I begged
I could only pout when the car slowed to a stop and the door was immediately opened by one of the butlers. My pout immediately turned to a smile when I got out of the car and saw my mother and father standing out front waiting for us.
My mother immediately pulled me into her arms hugging me tight and whispering her congratulations.
"Oh my little girl, he will take such good care of you when the time comes" she said giving my hands a soft squeeze.
"Mom, he is so amazing, and so sweet" I gushed turning to see Demetri in a conversation with our fathers, our eyes met and I felt my cheeks heat up when he smirked at me.
"I know, you're going to be good for him as well, I will help you" she said touching my chin.
My mother and I walked back to the garden, it was a warm night with the moon shining brightly when we sat on a stone bench.
"How are you my princess?" she said smiling softly.
"Happy and terrified at the same time, I don't know anything about being a wife, dad never even let me have a boyfriend, but is all excited about me being engaged? It makes no sense but I mean I know why now, but when everyone expects so much, I don't know if I can deliver" I confessed.
"That is why you have a mother, did you know I only met your father a week before we were married, I hated him for the first year, but the more I opened my heart and spent time with him, the more I grew to love his fierceness, his drive to protect what is his, his loyalty" she said with a smile.
"Mom, this whole practice is so medieval and archaic; I mean what about love, what about meeting someone by chance, first love and all that?" I questioned
"In our world, that's simply not a possibility Isabella, the life these men lead, it's dangerous and a world where weaknesses and secrets are exposed and exploited, women are protected and treated like fragile glass, if you were to meet say a stockbroker, everyone in this world knows who you are, how would he keep you safe?" she asked
"Mom, it's just so, I don't know. I never thought I would be sixteen with an engagement ring on my finger, the girls at school will talk, they-"
"Bella, there will never be anyone outside of this life who understands the inner workings of the life and the business your father is in, they simply see what the new reports have sensationalized, not what really is" she said softly rubbing my shoulders.
"I could never explain it to them either, I know I have to keep the secret, I know where my loyalties lie mom"
"Then you will be fine, I know you will be just as good for Demetri as he will be for you, you will both take care of each other, and you'll have a happy life with lots of babies" she smiled brightly
"Mom, I wanted to go to college, I wanted to be a English teacher, I wanted to teach little kids how to read, I feel like l'm giving up all of my dreams, and I know I feel something for Demetri, I'm sure I love him in fact, I just want to at least say I graduated from college, I mean what happens if we divorce?" I asked
"Divorce will never be an option for either of you Bella, marriage is like the vow to initiate, the only way out is a body bag" she said
"What if I'm not happy, or he doesn't want me anymore?" I questioned
"Doesn't matter, it's just what is, I know this is a lot to handle Bella, but I know that this is the life we were given, and I know you will be happy baby, you just have to accept what it" she said softly
"Mom, you have always told me to dream big, that I could do or be anything I wanted, and now you're telling me I have no other option but to return back to the fifties, take off my shoes put on an apron and wait for him by the door if he should so fancy coming home? I mean we rarely ever saw dad, I heard you crying yourself to sleep, I don't want that kind of life mom" I was begging now. I was so wrapped up in the fantasy of it, I naively forgot about what it all really meant.
"I'm sorry Bella, but I know in the end this will all work out, please trust me?" she asked running her thumb across the apple of my cheek.
"I don't really have a choice, and while I may trust you, I will never forgive you mom. I feel so trapped, I thought I was excited about this, but I feel like I have been stripped of all my choices and this isn't fair" I said getting up.
I ran into the house and into the room that had been set up for me and cried. I cried for the life I felt like I was losing, I cried for the rest of my teenage years that I would never get. For the first time I missed my friend back in Seattle, I missed school and I even missed being taunted by the bitch brigade. I would give anything to go back to the day where all I really worried about was what I was doing after school, going to the mall, where I would spring break and when would my dad and I go on my our vacation. All that was gone, I was gonna be a wife, I was going to be making dinner, smiling stupidly and not having a thought in my head Demetri hadn't put there for me.
I didn't come out of that room all night and most of the next day. I sat in the window seat and stared into the sky and when I wasn't staring at the sky I was staring at my ring, but for me it felt like a chain that was keeping me from going on to my life.
"So you wanna tell me what changed?" a voice said from behind me
I turned and there was Demetri standing in the doorway staring at me.
"I locked the door, how did you get in here?" I asked
"Bella, I was worried and wondering what had you off in your latest tantrum" he said sitting down.
"My life is over, all my choices are being taken away from me, this isn't fair" I covered my face
"Way to make me feel like marrying me is the worst thing in the world Bella" he said shaking his head.
"Demetri, I don't want you to feel like that way, I just don't get how you can be okay with this?" I said looking up at him.
"This is the life that I was given, I may not like it, but it's what I have to live with, Bella, I wanted to be a doctor, not a mob boss, but hey this is what we were given, so why not make the best of it" he said giving me a small smile.
"I'm sorry but this is never where I thought I would be at sixteen, this is all so scary, we barely know
each other" I said turning towards him.
"Yeah, but we could have a hell of a time getting to know each other, I will give you your dreams baby, if you want to be a teacher, I will make it happen" he said pulling me into his arms.
"They all expect so much of us, what kind of wife I'm supposed to be, I'm just so-" he cut me off with the softest most sensual kiss.
"Bella, don't worry about anyone's expectations but mine, We both have a lot to figure out, but how about next time, instead of running, you come to me and we try to talk it out?" he asked
"I'm sorry, this is all just so much so fast, I really do feel something for you, I love how I feel when I'm with you, but I just, I never wanted to be a part of this life, I just wanted to be normal, go to college, you know-normal" I sighed
"Well, I don't know about all that, but what I do know is that I will always make sure you're safe, happy, cherished, and your every desire is catered too, this is all going to be fine beautiful girl, no worries" he said and we laid down
I finally got some rest, I finally felt settled enough to breathe.
The next evening, we packed and got ready to head back to Seattle for the ball. Demetri and I flew in a separate jet from our parents. We talked and snuggled and then we played video games and ate cheeseburgers.
"This is nice, I like being able to act my age" he said popping a fry into his mouth
"What do you mean?" I asked
"My days are filled doing my father's bidding collecting his debts, making sure everyone kicks up, those who he protects, pays for his protection, it makes me feel old as hell, I wanna be twenty one go to concerts and clubs and all that shit, and I never get to, and it will only get worse after our fathers officially retire" he let out this long sigh
"You know I will always be there for you, keep you young and grounded, I mean we can still go to concerts, hang out do that stuff" I said flicking a French fry at him
It felt good to laugh, I felt like Demetri understood that we understood each other and I felt like we would be okay.
DPOV
For the last two hours Bella has slept peacefully in my arms. It has been a world wind since we met. When I got on that plane from Chicago to Seattle, I had no idea I was going to meet the woman I was intended to marry. I had heard rumors of arranged marriages, but no one had ever really said anything to me. I was a little shocked when we met each other; she was timid and beautiful, but sassy at the same time. The only problem I had with her was she was so fucking young. Sixteen, but I wanted her, from the second I saw her I only wanted her.
I had to wake her up, we were going to land soon. I kissed her softly a few times only to be stopped dead when she smiled and sighed my name in her sleep.
"Wake up beautiful girl, we're going to be landing soon" I whispered and kissed her again.
Kissing Bella is something I could spend my life doing. Her lips are so fucking soft and the way they mold to mine. I know this girl was meant for me.
Landing and meeting up with Charlie and my dad we stood around the air field but the women were about to be whisked away to where I had no idea, but I had to give Bella another kiss before I wouldn't see her again until right before the ball.
"Be a good girl, I can't wait to see you tonight" I whispered as I pressed my lips to hers.
"I'm gonna miss you, thank you for the flight, it made things easier to understand" she whispered
"Our secret, remember what happens between me and you, is no one's business but mine and yours" I said kissing her again
"I know baby, I love you" she whispered a blush heating up her cheeks.
"I love you Bella, I always will" I said and she was drug away by her mother.
I spent the day at the driving range with my father brother and future father in law. Talking business and hitting a few balls on the driving range.
"So her tantrums haven't sent you for the hills yet huh boy?" Charlie asked with a laugh
"They're nothing I can't handle, actually her behavior is getting better. We talked about it" I said not giving anything away. I had told Bella what happened between us would stay between us.
"How come I have a hard time believing that, I talked to mom the other day" Felix said walking up behind me.
"Bella's behavior problems or lack thereof is no one's business but mine, she is mine to handle and mine to discipline and I don't feel like talking about it with yall, so get off my balls" I said hitting the ball
"Why the sourpuss little brother?" Felix asked setting up his tee and ball.
"I just don't feel like discussing my future wife in the pretense that she is a child that needs a time out" I grumped and hit another ball.
We hit balls for a few hours before we parted company. I headed to the barber shop to get my hair lined up and then headed to the mall. I had a few hours and just needed more time to get my head on right, I hated dealing with people's expectations. I had to do things my way and my way only.
I stopped in a jewelry store and I was swarmed immediately by commission starved women wearing way to much perfume, the most aggressive one almost made me gag.
"Can I help you?" she purred as she leaned over letting the tops of her breast spill out of the top of her blouse.
"The only way to help me is to get me someone who isn't going to choke me with the stench of desperation mingled cheap perfume" I sneered at her
A smaller woman with dark hair tried to cover her laugh with a cough and ended up making me laugh and I gravitated towards her and smiled.
"I want something for my fiancé, we're going to a very formal ball and I want her to have something special" I said and she delivered it was a white gold and diamond wreath necklace and it would look amazing on my Bella. I knew she would whine about the price, but she would have to get use to getting expensive gifts for no other reason than I felt like it.
When I got back to Charlie's mansion, it was surprisingly quiet.
"Hey little bro, where you disappear to earlier man, I was just about to come looking for your ass" Felix asked
"You know me, every now and then I gotta just do my own thing for a minute, I wanted to get something for Bella for tonight, get a haircut and stuff" I said
"You're kinda quiet, since when is there secrets between us man?" he said opening a beer.
"Felix, it just feels like now my shit shifts to Bella, like things going on with me and what's in my head belongs to her now, it was weird cause we had this long as talk on the flight here and I told her what goes on between us, stays between us, so now it feels wrong to be discussing shit revolving around us with anyone else but her you know?" I asked
He stared at me for a second before his face broke into a shit eating grin.
"There is the start of a strong ass marriage man, you know the old guys, they have this idea of how wives and women are suppose to behave all quiet and proper and shit, they tend to forget how strong these girls have to be, how much shit they really deal with, being with a dude in the life, keeping up appearances, a different face for every situation, that shits brutal, and I think they need to know that there is some part of us, that belongs to just them. I mean it fucking sucks that in this day and age marriages are fucking set out and arranged, but in the same light, without Maggie, I'd be fucking lost. That's the balance, that is what keeps me sane and stable, well that and staying my ass in Vegas, there is a reason why I rarely come home. I fucking love the fact that at the end of all the bullshit I get to go home look at her and that smile and know that for that moment I got with her, nothing I do matters except that I come home to her" he said before tipping his beer back.
I was fucking floored, I had always heard about my brother how he never tolerated Maggie speaking or acting in any other way than what he approved of, but this was some shit I never thought I would hear him say, and as if he read my thoughts.
"We all have to keep up appearances D, let them think their ideas are what work, but in the end it'll be up to us to change this shit. It'll be up to us to make sure that Maggie and Bella never suffer in silence with a fake ass smile on their faces like mom and Renee" he said
"Renee told Bella she's happy, mom looks happy most of the time, I thought-"
"Your biggest problem is that you always take shit at face value D, but open your eyes and look around. Mom loves the bottomless bank account, she loves status. She could care less if dad lived or died"
"I just wanna have a good night with Bella, I don't-man, I just" I couldn't even form a complete thought
"D you have me as a big brother for a reason, I won't let this shit eat you up man, you and me, I know we've never really been close, but I just had to break away and do my own thing for a while, the insanity dad was pumping into my head I swear I almost ruined Maggie and I saw what this was really about, we can't treat marriage like a business acquisition, shit never works. Don't get me wrong, I expect Maggie to respect me, and to behave like a lady in public and a whore in the bedroom, but she has her own mind, and more times than not is my voice of reason"
"I'll see you at the country club tonight bro, thanks for the talk" I said I couldn't wrap my head around this shit and I kind of didn't want to, I just needed to see Bella.
"Yeah, see you later" He said walking down the hall to where I could hear Maggie calling for him.
I showered and was shaving when I heard the door to Bella's bedroom open. I peeked out the door and I sucked in a breath. Bella didn't have her gown on yet, but her hair and make-up was flawlessly done, just the way I liked it, not too much, she looked like she was glowing, like an angel.
I smiled as she walked around the room pulling things out of her closet and dresser.
"Hey beautiful" I said making my presence known.
"Demetri, I was just about to get my dress on, the car will be here in about forty five minutes" She said grabbing the large garment bag off of her closet door
When she stripped out of her yoga pants and button down, I fought back the urge to bend her over the side of the bed and take her from behind kissing and biting every inch of her succulent shoulders and neck.
I slipped into my suit pants as I watched Bella unzip the back of the poofy dress that looked like sparkling sorbet. The colors all looked beautiful on her, the soft curls in her hair, she looked like a sparkling beautiful angel.
"Demetri, can you zip me up?" she whispered looking at me over her shoulder. The dress was strapless and I placed some soft kisses along her shoulders.
"You look like a beautiful angel my beautiful Bella" I whispered in her ear, the soft whimper that escaped her lips made my dick as hard as steel.
"I want to kiss you, but I can't momma says not to ruin my lipstick" she whispered softly.
"It's okay, Soon enough, but I have something for you" I whispered as I stepped back from her.
"Demetri, I mean I didn't-" she started in with this adorable mumbling babble.
I silenced her with a single finger to her chin.
"Bella, I will buy you whatever I want, whenever I want, you should just get used to being spoiled" I said as I opened the dark blue velvet box.
"Oh my god Demetri, this is amazing, it's beautiful" she whispered as she reached forward to touch it.
"A beautiful necklace, but a beautiful princess, let me put it on you" I said smiling and kissing the tip of her nose.
"As I suspected the necklace looked amazing on her small delicate neck. It fit the dress and gave her even more sparkles than she had before.
I smiled at her as she helped me with my tie, which my mother had matched to her dress perfectly.
"You look so handsome" she whispered resting her forehead against mine
"Is it wrong that I wish we didn't have to leave we could just stay here like this" I whispered reveling in the warmth.
"I wish we could hide forever, just be me and you, but like my momma said, we'll take care of each other, and we will be okay" she whispered.
"Come on, let's go make some jaws drop, because you and I, look amazing together" I said as I spun her around by the waist and we stared at our reflection in the mirror she raised her arm behind her and played with the hair at the back of my neck I watches her and let my hands slowly snake over the bodice of her dress, stopping at her perfectly delectable breast.
The gods must have been smiling on me when they created Bella. I was a breast man, always have been and she has the most perfect breast, more than enough without being over the top, enough to make any bikini top look absofuckinglutely sinful on her. Some would judge me because at this point for me to think of her this way is actually against the law, but my god the girl is beautiful and she's mine.
She let out the softest most erotic sigh and I wanted her, but it did enough to break the spell. I led her out of the room and down the stairs to where my brother and Maggie were waiting.
"Bella this is Maggie-"
"I met her at the spa today, it was great" she smiled and they immediately started chatting and I felt like this could work. Maybe Felix was right.
