9: Marital Hell

Sine Reneire was married, and very unhappily married. Her name wasn't even technically Reneire anymore and her… husband… had reassured her that it wouldn't take long for the paperwork with her new, legal name to be processed.

Married… and her bridesmaids had been men, in dresses. That part was rather ironic since the men were the same pair she had seen in Milan. She had recognized them instantly and made a dry comment about their lack of ladies clothing. 'Taker had found that amusing and decided she needed bridesmaids. Sine hadn't felt bad in the slightest when the two lithe, blond men were forced into revolting, off the rack gowns and made to stand up beside her.

She had been forced into a gown as well, pure black, which was another thing 'Taker had found amusing. She assumed it was the irony. He had contracted her to make a black wedding gown for Stephanie and now she was the unfortunate woman wearing it.

He had held her up throughout the ceremony, explaining her tears as nerves when the official conducting the poor imitation of a wedding hesitated at the sight of the sobbing bride. Once they had finally, reluctantly, been announced husband and wife, Sine had started like hysterically, garnering the attention of everyone who was nearby. The Ministry, who had been flown out as witnesses to the event, had all stared at her like she was crazy.

Paul and Bradshaw had removed her to a small, quiet room after that, just until she calmed down enough to not cause much of a scene with her hyena like laughter. Paul had stared at her with an almost fearful expression on his face, obviously expecting her to attempt murdering them.

Sine was definitely considering that option.

"Where are we going?" Sine asked quietly, an hour after her breakdown in the chapel. Once she had calmed down, she had been turned over to 'Taker and escorted out to a waiting limousine, his entourage –including Paul- all going their own ways, leaving the newlyweds to their marital hell.

'Taker was sitting across from her, studying her. Compared to her hysteria earlier, this was… not expected. She looked calm again, her face still a bit pale –but then again, she was a naturally pale woman- and a little pinched looking. She wasn't even looking at him but out the window. "Home."

She snorted at that, raking a hand through her hair only to stop, pulling her hand down and stared at the wedding ring on her finger in disgust, not bothering to mask the loathing she felt.

"You didn't put up much of a fight." He taunted, purposefully baiting her and was pleased to see anger quicken her features. "Other than that little slip in sanity… you were rather… willing…"

"What good would it have done to make a spectacle of myself? More so than I had already done?" She hissed through clenched teeth, finally meeting his gaze, wanting to lash out at him desperately but knowing he wouldn't hesitate to retaliate. She knew he had promised not to harm her 'much' but his promises meant very little to her.

"I find your little spectacles rather amusing, pet."

"Would you have stopped and let me go?"

"Highly unlikely."

"So again, what good would it have done?"

"You are learning, Sine, good girl." When she actually lunged across the seat at him, her fingers tensed as if to claw him with her rather sharp nails, he began laughing. Easily, 'Taker caught her and arranged her on his lap, wrapping his arms around his struggling bride, trapping her arms to her sides. "Everything is going to be fine, Sine."

Knowing fighting wasn't doing her any good, Sine just pressed her forehead against his chest, hiding her tears.

He held her against him, letting her cry herself to sleep.

"Mmm… welcome home, Mrs. Calaway…"

Sine woke up to 'Taker purring that in her ear, disoriented but aware enough to feel that he was hovering over her. Trying to ignore him, and the fact that he was doing very delicious things to her neck, she focused on her situation.

She was lying on a bed. It was obvious she had fallen asleep in the limo. How he had gotten her inside without waking her up was beyond her, she didn't remember being that tired. Then again… considering the day she had had… she felt like more sleep was in order.

When 'Taker moved his lips to hers, she turned her head, ignoring his warning growl and stared at the wall. They were in his, no their, bedroom and she smiled mirthlessly. Her head snapped back to attention when he moved down, frowning as he pushed the skirt of her dress up. "Stop it."

"You're not going to deny me now, Sine, not after giving yourself to me so thoroughly."

What really, truly bothered her was the fact that even though she hated him with an intensity that was alarming, she also wanted him, physically. Her body ached at the mere thought of him and that didn't bode well for her peace of mind, already seeing the beginning of a pattern forming. Sex and hatred, passionate and deadly at the same time, this would end badly. If it ended at all…

When he felt her hand moving between them, he tensed, fully expecting some sort of attack. He let out a low hiss when instead she opened the front of his slacks, lightly arching his hips as her slim fingers wrapped around his semi-erect shaft, stroking him firmly. "Damn…" He groaned huskily, finding the rhythm with her as she pumped him a bit quicker, a little harder.

Sine whimpered her protest when he yet again pulled her hand away, frowning as he gave her a pointed look, wondering what she had done now. "I wasn't-" She knew then, she had taken away his control, this thought cemented when he was on top of her. "Mark, I-" A second later she found her wrists pinned over her head, a position she was beginning to hate.

He smirked down at her when she bared her teeth in a throaty growl. She could scream she hated him until she was blue in the face, the fact remained that she enjoyed their time in the bedroom, even if she didn't enjoy some of the things he did, at first.

"Let go, Mark." She whispered. "Please?"

After a moment's hesitation, he released her. The immediate after was tense for him as he waited for her to do something besides stare up at him. The corner of his mouth twitched in a hint of a smile at the shocked expression she wore, deciding she needed motivation to take advantage of the reign he was giving her.

Sine let out a very unladylike snort when they rolled; clutching at him so she didn't topple once she was right side up.

Folding his hands behind his head, 'Taker regarded her thoughtfully. He really hoped he didn't regret this, especially when her palms came in contact with his bare chest. It idly crossed his mind that he should have removed all sharp, blunt and heavy objects from the room because it was very likely that she would try bashing his head in.

Sine could not deny that she was rather tempted to grab the heavy wooden box on the bedside table beside them and bring it down on his head. However, when 'Taker shot her a warning look after following her gaze, she decided it against it. There was time to murder him later.

Instead she set about to ravaging him thoroughly, always waiting for him to flip and take control. While she had the opportunity, she explored his body, touching and teasing him. Surprise was hers when he simply allowed it. When she finally ended the burning for both of them, it was so intense she nearly blacked out and simply collapsed on his chest.

"I love you." He whispered against her head, knowing she wouldn't say it back but that was alright. It wasn't exactly a conventional love he held for her anyway. Nudging her gently, he shifted onto his side, positioning her until her back was pressed against his chest and splayed his palm against her abdomen.

Children.

That's what he wanted next.

"This would be much easier if you would allow me out of the house." Sine said evenly, not looking away from the screen of her computer monitor as she placed an order for new material. Three months into their 'marriage' and she had yet to step foot off the property.

Mark, she refused to think of him as 'Taker, had point blank told her she wasn't leaving the house or adjacent land because he didn't trust her. He had good reason for that because she had tried leaving the day after he had brought her here. That had gone over… poorly.

He stood behind her, watching her intently. While he did not overly like computers, he knew how to use one. He also knew that she was very computer literate. Every time she was online, he was right there to monitor her usage, not putting it past her to try getting a message to someone.

It was a love/hate relationship. She loved to hate him and he just loved her, in his own fucked up way. Some days were good, some days were bad and this day was shaping up to be one of the bad days. She had woken up with it already cemented in her head to be as difficult as possible and that had set the tone.

"Not likely." He grunted, watching as the Web page refreshed itself after she had checked out and paid. He had allowed her to continue working, but from home. He had even given her a 'wedding' present of a new studio to work in, down in the basement since he had a rather twisted sense of humor. Whenever he was down there with her, he made sure he did not turn his back on her or her sewing machines.

"You could take me to town, I wouldn't run."

"No."

Pushing away from the desk, Sine turned off the tower and whirled to face him. "Ordering material like this is… risky, I don't know for sure what I am getting."

"Not my problem, pet." He replied, turning and walking away from her. A second later, he was whirling back around, a hand going to rub the back of his head. His eyes landed on the empty cup she had hurled at him before slowly moving to meet her hardened stare. "Have you lost your damn mind?"

"Probably, yes." Sine was already backing away from him, regretting her fit of temper. It had been established early on that he wouldn't lay a hand on her, so long as she didn't lay one on him. He counted her throwing things at him as 'laying a hand'. "Don't touch me!"

"Oh no, sweetheart, you started it!" Mark was enjoying this a bit too much as he stalked towards her, dodging when a picture came flying at him next. "Sine, you know I'm going to punish you for this, so why are you doing it?"

"I want you to let me go, damn it!"

Fun and games were over at those words.

Sine realized that had been the wrong thing to say by the way his eyes flashed and booked it for the bedroom, slamming the door shut behind her. There were no locks on any door in the house so she began scooting the heavy dresser over.

Sighing, he raked his nails down the door, pushing gently and wasn't surprised to find it wouldn't open. "Sine… open the door, sweetheart."

"No."

"Open the fucking door, woman."

"No."

He heard her muttering something under her breath, in French no less, which only served to irritate him further. He had implemented a strict 'English only' policy after getting tired of listening to her speak nothing but French at him for weeks, knowing she wasn't saying anything loving. "Quit that muttering."

She simply did it louder.

"Damn it, Sine, open the door and knock it off!" She was out to drive him insane and doing a very good job with it. He began driving his shoulder into the unforgiving wood, cursing himself for not going with cheap, flimsy material when constructing his house. However, at the time, many years ago, he hadn't been planning on having a wife who would constantly be trying his damn patience. He wasn't figuring on a wife period. "NOW!"

"Je suis enceinte!"

"You already know," He growled, feeling the dresser giving. "I don't understand," another inch "a fucking word," and another. "you're saying."

"I'm pregnant you son of a bitch!"

Mark froze, staring at the partially opened door in shock. He could hear her crying but didn't really care, wondering if she was telling him the truth or just trying to save her worthless ass. He knew she was probably being honest, he had discovered that Sine rarely bothered with telling lies. She wasn't good at lying. Gritting his teeth, he threw himself at the door.

The dresser toppled, spilling its contents all over the floor and he filled the now open doorway, staring down at his wife. She was sitting on the end of the bed, head hanging and her hands clasped in her lap. He took a moment, studying her, searching for a physical sign of her alleged pregnancy.

Other than a bit thinner and her hair was longer, she looked the same as she had on the day he had met her. Granted, she had been a lot happier back then but… if she'd accept her new lot, she could be happy again. It wasn't his fault the woman didn't even want to try to be happy.

Sine cringed when he kneeled down in front of her, parting her knees roughly to fit between her now outstretched legs. "Don't." she hissed when he reached for her shirt, letting out a groan when he grabbed hold of her wrists. She despised it when he did that and now was not any exception. Forcing herself to sit perfectly still, Sine watched through slit eyes as he pulled her shirt up over her chest, staring at her stomach intently.

When he reached out to place his palm against her abdomen, she sucked her stomach in without even thinking about it. He didn't pay any attention to that though, too busy studying her. "You're not showing. How far along are you?"

"I… I don't know."

"You sure you're pregnant, Sine?" He demanded, looking directly into her eyes, silently letting her know that if she was fucking with him just to get out of trouble he would make her life a living hell, worse than what she thought it was now.

"Oui." She cleared her throat, not looking very pleased with the idea. "I… haven't had a period since before… you married me."

He rather liked the way she had worded that and stood, pulling her up with him, never removing his hand from her belly. "Looks like I got my wish."