Chapter 10

Ivy, Present time...

I could feel the blood boiling in my veins as I shoved Aidan away with all my might, his body stumbling back in shock. "Get the hell away from me!" I screamed, my voice hoarse and filled with rage.

His eyes widened in surprise, but I didn't care. "Why did you kiss me? No, scratch that, how dare you even think about kissing me!?" My words came out like a roar, echoing off the walls with a ferocity that surprised even me.

"Jesus, Ivy. It was just a kiss. No need to get your panties in a twist," Aidan said dismissively.

I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions swirling inside me. Aidan's smug attitude made me want to slap him, but I knew that wouldn't solve anything.

"It wasn't just a kiss," I said, my voice quiet but firm. "It was a reminder of how you treated me back then."

Aidan's cocky façade faltered slightly. For a brief moment, uncertainty flickered across his face. But then the mask was back in place.

"You need to let go whatever happened in the past. We are grown now and don't pretend like you didn't feel a spark between us just now," he said.

 Aidan's words made my blood boil even hotter. How dare he act like nothing had happened?

"Let go?" I practically shrieked. "Do you have any idea what it was like for me after you stole my first kiss? And then humiliated me in front of everyone?"

I could feel angry tears pricking at my eyes, but I refused to cry in front of him. Never again. Blinking them back furiously, I took a step towards Aidan.

"There was no spark. The only thing I felt was disgust. You forced yourself on me just like you forced me into lockers and tripped me in the halls back then. You're still that same bully, thinking you can take whatever you want."

"Come on, Ivy. You are being dramatic. You are not remembering things correctly. How about all the good moments between us?" he argued.

Sure, maybe some moments were good between us, but right now, when he kissed me and triggered that memory of my first kiss, all it did was rip open my old wound.

"Just...don't ever kiss me again," I hissed.

Aidan's demeanor suddenly changed, and his eyes turned dark. 

 Aidan's expression changed in an instant. His eyes, once warm and friendly, now burned with an icy intensity that sent a chill down my spine.

"Don't tell me what to do," he said, his voice low and threatening. "You seem to have forgotten who I am and what I'm capable of."

He took a step towards me, backing me up against the wall. Aidan placed one hand on the wall beside my head and leaned in close.

"Let me remind you," he whispered. "I am no longer some teenage boy you can dismiss, Ivy Williams. I hold all the power now."

"Oh, so just because you are some Mafia boss, I am supposed to cower in your feet?" I snapped. "We have a deal, Aidan. I will pretend to be your wife, that's it. I am not obligated to give you anything else."

His eyes bored into mine. I could feel his breath hot against my cheek as he leaned in closer.

"This is not a game, Ivy. This is real life," he growled.

I held my ground, refusing to be intimidated by his words or his close proximity. His position as a Mafia boss may have given him power, but it didn't give him the right to treat me like this.

"I am well aware of that, Aidan. And I agreed to this arrangement because I have no other choice. But don't think for a second that I will let you control me," I said firmly.

His gaze flickered between anger and frustration before finally settling on determination.

"Fine," he said through gritted teeth. "But remember this, Ivy. You may not be mine yet, but you will be soon."

"I will never be yours," I said in a hoarse whisper.

Aidan scoffed, his blue eyes twinkling. "We will see about that. For now, let's get settled. I need to tell you what's next on the agenda."

Aidan's words sent a chill down my spine. What was he planning? I had agreed to be his fake wife, but I never thought he would try to make a move on me for real.

Okay, maybe it was stupid of me to think that. He did imply he was physically attracted to me back in the hotel room, but I took the risk by coming here with him anyway.

But I couldn't let him control me. I had to find a way out of this situation before it was too late.

"Fine," I said, trying to keep my voice steady. "What's next?"

Aidan straightened and let out a deep breath. "First, we get settled in our room."

"Our room? What do you mean by our room? I am not sharing a room with you!" I exclaimed.

Aidan rolled his eyes. "Don't be ridiculous, Ivy. We are supposed to be newlyweds on our honeymoon. Why would we have separate rooms in the Villa? How would that look?"

"Do I at least get my own bed?" I asked.

"No," he simply said.

My heart skipped a beat at the thought of sleeping next to him. The last thing I wanted was to be in such close proximity to the man who wanted to sleep with me. 

My heart was pounding as Aidan led me into the expansive master suite. This was really happening. I was going to have to share a bedroom - and a bed - with my former bully turned fake husband, who was also a dangerous criminal.

The room was beautifully decorated in shades of cream and gold, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean. But I could hardly appreciate the view, not with the panic rising in my chest.

Aidan strolled casually across the room and sat on the edge of the king-sized four poster bed, patting the space next to him. "Come join me, darling. We should discuss our cover story."

I hesitated, clutching my small suitcase like a shield. The thought of sitting so close to him made my skin crawl. But I had no choice. I had to play along.

Slowly, I made my way over and perched rigidly on the very edge of the mattress. I made sure to leave plenty of space between us.

Aidan chuckled. "No need to be shy. We are married now, remember?"

Before I could react, he wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me against him. I squirmed, trying to break free, but his grip was like iron.

"Let go of me," I protested, hating the waver in my voice.

"Come now, is that any way to treat your loving husband?" His tone was light, but there was an edge to it that put me on high alert.

I forced myself to stop struggling, even as every muscle in my body screamed at me to run. I had to pick my battles carefully. Pissing him off now wouldn't end well for me.

So I sat straight, eyes fixed straight ahead as he held me close. The warmth of his body seeped into mine, making me feel feverish.

This was my own personal hell, but I had to find a way through it. And the first step was learning Aidan's cover story so I could convincingly play the part of his blushing new bride.

I just prayed I could survive this honeymoon from hell long enough to figure a way out of this nightmare. But with Aidan's arm locked around me, escape felt further away than ever.