Chapter One Hundred and thirty

Nervous black eyes stared back at me as shaky hands tousled my black mane. I looked down at my simple pale pink lingerie rimmed with black lace and released a shaky breath, trying to calm my nerves as I applied one of the several perfumes I had stocked up in the closet, behind my ears and on my neck.

"You can do this Ariana. Let's go." I said to myself in the mirror, grabbing my robe. I pulled it on and loosely tied the knots.

I turned to leave the closet but the nerves hit me again. I wanted to die of embarrassment at the thought of what I was about to do.

"Oh Dios, I know this is the right thing to do but I'm so scared of what's to come." I lamented, hiding my face in my palms.

I took one glance at my rings and bit on my lower lip.

"We're married." I said. Maybe reminding me of our relationship status gave me a boost of confidence because I could not be afraid of being tossed aside like a one night stand the next day.

"It's not something casual, it's intimacy."

I turned away from the mirror and marched forward without looking back cause I knew if I did, I would lose confidence again.

"Hey Damien." I said as soon as I walked into the room.

"Hey babe, what's...up?" His words broke as he typed furiously.

He was seated outside, working on his laptop in full concentration. I walked over to his side twirling some strands of my hair around my index finger and took a glance at whatever he was doing on his system.

"Oh nothing, I just wanted to check on you." I replied

"That's sweet." He took my hand and pecked the back of my palm.

"Are you going to be free anytime soon?" I asked him.

"Yeah. Is there something you wanna talk to me about?" He glanced up at me.

What was I supposed to say now? There had to be some way to break the ice. I tried to think back to what Brianna had advised me on, a few days before.

"Hmm, gimme a minute." I rushed out without waiting for his response.

I picked up a bottle of champagne and as well as glasses from the bar. We needed ice, which meant I had to go downstairs to get it.

"Ugh." I groaned.

I scurried out of the room, lamenting in my thoughts about how far the kitchen was because of the large house.

I got there in one piece, picked a pack of ice cubes, placed it on a tray and rushed back up to the bedroom.

"Someone's feeling celebratory." I heard the moment I walked through the door.

My palm flew to my chest.

"Why do you always startle me like that?"

"You're always jumpy, that's why." He plainly stated.

"What are we celebrating?" He walked over to pop the bottle open.

"Lots of things." I said.

"True, but I've never seen you drink before."

He was right. I dreaded the taste of alcohol.

"It's not bad to try something different or is it?"

He gave me a skeptical once-over before pouring the content of the bottle into the ice filled wineglasses.

"To all the good things of life." He recited a quick toast as cocked his head to the side showing off a lopsided grin and slightly raising his glass.

"Cheers." I chuckled.

We clinked our glasses against each other and took sips from the drinks. I shut my eyes at the strange taste of the liquid. This was my first time tasting such and if I knew anything about alcohol, it was better to tread with caution so I wouldn't be too lightheaded.

I went over to the couch to sit down.

"You sure you can finish that glass?" He asked me.

"I can try." I said but was actually putting my glass aside as he came closer to sit next to me.

"You look extra good tonight. Is it the hair or something."

Finally he noticed!

"Oh I don't know." I played coy.

"You're up to something, Mrs Kingston." He smirked.

"Oh am I, Mr Kingston?" I said back in sarcasm. I stood up and gradually took off my robe, letting it fall to the ground.

His eyes darkened as his pupils dilated.

"Come here." He hoarsely demanded, patting his laps.

I straddled him, steadying myself with my fingers clamping his rock hard shoulders.

He teased my neck with his nose, sniffing every inch of skin.

"You smell so good." He lowly commented.

He grabbed my ass and lightly smacked my left butt cheek, I moaned.

"I love the feel of this." He said, slowly massaging my behind while I took the liberty of grinding him teasingly.

I pressed my lips to his, taking the lead in the kiss but not for long because he soon plunged his tongue into my mouth.

When we pulled apart for air, I felt it was the best time to tell him.

"Babe," I breathed out.

"Yeah baby." He pushed a strand of my hair behind my ear.

"I'm ready." I said.

His eyes widened and I looked away shyly.

"Are you sure?" He asked me tentatively.

I stood up, taking his hand, pulling him to the bed while my heart pounded in my ears.

I put his hands on my hips and kissed him demandingly, hoping he got his answer.

I sat down on the bed with his lips still on mine as he hovered over me. His hands positioned on either side of me.

I shifted further in and he was soon kneeling over me. Then, I broke the kiss and tried to take off his pants but he stopped me.

I gave him a puzzled glance.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Babe I love you."

I grinned. Was he trying to be cheesy right now?

"I love you too." I said back, going in for his shirt but he ceased my hands.

"And I really want us to do this but not tonight please."

My spirits dampened in utter disappointment. It felt like cold water had been poured on me at this point.

"What? Why? Did I do something wrong?" I sniffled, unable to hide my mortification at the sudden rejection.

"Babe I'm not rejecting you. No, don't cry...!" He held my face and wiped the tears that had flooded my cheeks away.

"Then what? I went through all this trouble just to let you know that I'm ready to consummate our marriage and you're just going to turn me down like you've been doing for days." I hiccuped.

"This is really difficult for me too, I promise you. But babe, I want our first time together to be perfect. Please trust me." He caressed my face as he spoke.

"We can do anything you want but let's not go all in tonight." He proposed a compromise.

I shook my head.

"I just want to sleep." I mumbled.

I rolled away from my position underneath him and set my feet on the floor.

"Alexa! Lock the doors." He yelled hurriedly and the doors shut immediately.

"Have some faith in me Damien." I blankly stated, rolling my eyes while at it.

"I just wanted to be sure you weren't leaving." He said, scratching the back of his neck nervously.

"I'm just going to take this off." I stared down at my skimpily clad body and wanted to melt when I met his searing gaze.

"I like seeing it on you." He crawled closer to me like a predator laying in wait for his prey to fall into its trap.

"Well there's no point in having it on now, is there?" I was sour, no doubt.

I walked away, half hearing his ludicrous explanation.

"I want it to be perfect!" I mimicked him.

"I planned this perfectly. Got new sexy lingerie, used new expensive designer perfume," I rambled on in agitated soliloquy, hoping he wouldn't hear me.

So what if he did? To hell with him!

I sounded like a sexually frustrated wife who's husband didn't get so excited for intercourse after having kids. Maybe, I was after all - just without the kids part.