I want you

Anna's POV

I followed Selina into a room not far from the dining room.

She locked the door after we got inside, and immediately turned her attention to me.

"How is it going?" She asked abruptly.

"What exactly are you asking about?" I asked, keeping a distance between us.

I am not going to let what happened on the wedding day repeat itself, or she would show a part of me I have kept hidden.

"I can see you and Nicholas are very active in the bedroom. Should I be preparing for another grandchild?" She asked and I couldn't hide my amusement.

I chuckled softly.

"I want a lot of grandchildren. Rebecca's health isn't very good and Jennifer does not plan to have any children, at least not in the near future.

It is now your duty to give the family as many children as possible.

Six is not a bad number, but I would prefer eight" she trailed on, each word sounding strange to my ear.

"Nicholas and I do not have any plans to have children any time soon. And when we are ready you will know "I replied, lying smoothly to cover the awkwardness i was feeling. By then the marriage will be over anyways.

"Hey, don't be stupid. I told you before that your duty is to bear my grandchildren. Whereas no man will tell you that they are ready to have children. That power belongs solely to you. The decision to conceive belongs to you. Do something about it soon.

Also, this discussion should stay between us. I want to hear the news of your pregnancy by next month", She concluded sternly, leaving no room for argument.

She walked out after she was done and I almost screamed out loud from frustration.

I returned to the dining room to meet Nicholas and his brother facing each other in a tense atmosphere.

Rebecca bid us goodnight and carried her sleepy son off to bed. Jennifer mumbled goodnight to Thomas and Nicholas before disappearing into the house.

I stand beside Nicholas waiting for him to stand up and we can leave but I know it won't be soon

"Why didn't you tell me about your wedding?" Thomas asked, starting a conversation with Nicholas.

"Because I did not want to", Nicholas responded coldly.

"Are you still mad at me?" Thomas asked, and Nicholas closed his eyes in frustration.

"Nick, it's been a year. You should let go of this anger", Thomas continued persuasively.

"It's none of your business what I do with my feelings. If you didn't have such great audacity I would not have any reason to hold on to such a grudge", Nicholas shot back.

I touched him on the shoulder as his voice had gone high, he relaxed his tense shoulder and stopped talking.

"Let's go to bed" I said softly, loud enough for Thomas to hear.

This is exactly what he was avoiding, but his mother had ruined the rest of the night by taking me away for just a few minutes.

"I am your older brother, don't let your anger blind you Nicholas!" Thomas' voice also went high as his anger rose.

"Earn your respect, brother, being the oldest does not make you the wisest".

Nicholas's tense up again.

I look between them in confusion.

"Well, this can't go on for the rest of the night" I said to him again and this time he stood up from his seat, we went back to our room.

Inside the room, things become awkward between us as he sighed in frustration while standing by the window.

I climbed onto bed while ignoring him too, if he needs some space he will get it.

"Thank you for tonight," Nicholas said softly, turning around from the window.

I nodded in acknowledgement of his words but his eyes remained glued on me.

"What did Mother say to you?" He asked, changing the topic.

"It's nothing," I replied.

"Come here" I tap the space beside me.

"Tell me what Mum said to you and I will come" he replied, folding his arms and resting his back on the wall.

I narrowed my eyes at him.

"I know this isn't written in our agreement, but I would like it if we do not keep secrets from each other". He continued.

"Then you should start by telling me where you went that night," I replied.

He frowned slightly at what I said.

"Can I tell you that later?

At a better time, but I want you to know that I wasn't engaging in any bad act", he said after a pause.

I nodded in understanding.

"Alright

Your mother wants grandchildren from us" I replied, smiling.

"What?

I'm sorry she put you through that" he apologized, the frustration evident on his face.

"No, you don't need to apologize to me.

I'm just curious as to why you are deceiving everyone.

If you want a real wife you can easily get one without all this hassle", I voiced out carefully.

I don't want to ruin his already bad mood but I just feel like I need to know more than I know now.

Nicholas pondered on what I said for a while before replying.

"I had to do this because I don't trust anyone anymore in a romantic relationship. I almost got married last year, but my brother took my drunk fiancé to bed weeks before our wedding. He had claimed to have mistaken her for his wife". He replied, and slowly walked to the other side of the bed.

He sighed warily and smiled at me.

I don't know much that had hurt him but just thinking about it is infuriating me.

"I'm sorry that happened, but that's absurd. How can he think that she was his wife?" I asked in a whisper.

"No, you don't need to. Apparently they have some resemblance" he chuckled and sat on the edge of the bed.

"I guess that's why there is bad blood between you and your brother".

"Also, mother was ready to force me into another marriage and I would have been miserable if I allowed it. But at least I don't feel that way about you, since we both agreed to this ". He said smiling.

"Goodnight Anna, I will be out late. Don't wait for me". And with that he left the room.

I felt a little bit hurt that he left. He had opened up to me tonight about his past and his reason for coming to me, but he was taking a step back at the same time.

Even though he had asked her not to, I stayed up all night waiting for him.

By the time the sky was clearing up for a new day, He finally returned.

I smelled a thick smell of tobacco on him as soon as he got inside.

"Good morning" he greeted ney, his voice a little husky.

Had he smoked all night?

I thought in shock.

"Good morning, I waited for you all night. A married man shouldn't spend his night outside leaving his wife alone" I said jokingly.

He nodded at what I said and slowly approached where I sat resting my back on the headboard.

"I told you not to," he argued.

"But I did," I countered, looking up at him.

He stopped in front of me and tuck a ringlet of hair behind my ear.

I lifted my head up to look at him, his eyes were almost bloodshot.

He must have stayed up all night.

Bending a little he kissed me on the lips, I could taste the tobacco faintly on his lips.

He broke the kiss and his eyes were dark with desire.

"I want you" he whispered against my neck as he planted kisses there.

His words were like a wake-up call for me, and I gently pushed him away.

"We can't do that" I said, putting some distance between us.

He nodded in agreement and turned around to walk into the bathroom.

I breathe out in relief, this is going in a direction I did not plan.