The Matrimony Room

Before she knew it, Myra was dragged to a beautiful annex which was further behind the mansion, yet even more luxurious and grander than the main mansion in the front. As she was led deeper inside, where several servants awaited them. "Welcome, Mr & Mrs. Westwood," they greeted in unison.

Before they could continue on, Xavier waved his hands dismissively. "Do not disturb us.", he ordered, before dragging Myra into a massive, opulent room. 

Myra was dazzled by the luxuries that the Westwood lived in, not a single speck of dust marred the humongous place. Every corner was adorned with richness; even the furniture sparkled with exuberance. Myra stood gawking, her mouth slightly open, until Xavier scoffed in disgust, "Can you stop ogling now?" 

Myra snapped her mouth shut, her jaw tightening as she turned to Xavier with a glare. "Forgive me, Mr. Westwood, as I'm not used to this level of extravagance." She gestured around the room, its grand chandelier twinkling like a constellation above them, the velvet drapes falling in heavy cascades over tall windows, and the walls adorned with intricate gold embellishments.

"I suppose I should have expected it. After all, money solves everything, doesn't it?" Myra spat out, haughtily. Truth be told, she was a little embarrassed by what his cousin said to her earlier and knowing for a fact that Xavier had very well heard every word of it. 

Xavier let out a scoff, his hands slipping into the pockets of his tailored waistcoat as he leaned lazily against the mahogany dresser. "It does, in fact. It bought you a new life, didn't it?" His voice was smooth, taunting. 

"One far better than the destitute little hole, I helped you crawl out of." Xavier added oil to the fire Myra started. 

Myra's nails dug into her palms, her face was burning hot, but her pride burned hotter than her embarrassment. 

Xavier studied Myra a little too intensely, he actually quite liked the expression she was making. What he analyzed was, he had such a way with words that affected Myra to such a level that he loved every bit of reaction he was getting out of her. He felt a little depraved and a little bit of a sadist, but he noticed that he liked Myra's face and the expressions she made, and how her head's cog of wheels turned. 

Myra felt like a low-life, and she knew she had dug herself into this mess herself. She could have just stayed a pauper and declared bankruptcy, but her pride - for herself and for her father's legacy - was something she wanted to fight for. Besides the loanshark wouldn't have left her alone, even if she had filed for bankruptcy. 

"You think you own me now, don't you? Myra answered, anger rising in her. 

He pushed himself off the dressed and stalked towards her, his gaze dark, with something unreadable. 

"I don't think. I know." He answered in a definite manner which made Myra uncomfortable. 

Myra took an instinctive step back, but her spine met the cool surface of the carved wooden bedpost. The sheer dominance in Xavier's presence sent a shiver down her spine, but she lifted her chin defiantly, unwilling to cower beneath his arrogance. 

His gaze flickered downward, tracing the soft rise and fall of her breath. Myra followed his gaze and she felt her heart starting to pound violently in her chest, 'Surely he's not thinking of what I'm thinking, is he?', Myra fidgeted internally. 

She didn't want to let her see her falter, "So what now, dear husband?" she challenged him, forcing a smile on her face, despite the tightness in her throat and the chill she kept feeling down her spine. "Do you plan to lay claim to your purchase?" 

Xavier's jaw clenched. For a fleeting second, Myra thought she saw something flash in his eyes - something that spelled dangerous, something hungry. But then he laughed, low and mirthless. "You'd like that, wouldn't you?" 

The heat that surged up, betrayed Myra as it spread across her cheeks. 'Goddamnit.', she internally cursed herself as she felt herself blushing. 

"Has anyone told you, you are insufferable." Myra was annoyed at herself at this point. 

"I've been called worse." His fingers suddenly reached out, brushing against her wrist. The touch was fleeting, but it sent a shockwave through her body, her breath catching involuntarily. 

His fingers traced higher, along the delicate skin of her forearm, up to her bare shoulder where the neckline of her dress slipped slightly. Myra swallowed hard, the room suddenly too small, too warm. His proximity made her stomach twist, her skin erupting in goosebumps. 

Then, just as suddenly, he removed his finger, his touch disappeared. 

She blinked up at him in confusion, her breath ragged, but before she could question it, Xavier moved, tilting her chin up with his fingers. His grip was firm, not cruel, but enough to make her stomach somersault. "For all your defiance, Myra," he murmured, his voice rich as velvet, "I think you forgot one thing." 

"What?" she whispered, hating how breathless she sounded. The last thing she wanted was to appear weak in front of him. 

"I never said I wanted you." 

The words that spurned out, stung Myra more than she cared to admit. She wanted to slap that smug expression right off his face, but before she could react, he did something unexpected. 

Xavier kissed her. 

It wasn't a gentle, hesitant kiss. It was demanding, hot and utterly consuming. His lips claimed hers with a force that sent her mind spiraling into chaos. Myra gasped against him, her body betraying her, melting into the intensity of it all. His hands curled around her waist, pulling her flush against him, their bodies colliding in a heat that neither of them knew of and had acknowledged before. 

It felt maddening, intoxicating. 

And then, just as suddenly as he he started it, he pulled away. 

Myra stumbled slightly, breathless and dazed, her lips tingling from the assault. 

"What the hell was that?" she snapped, her voice laced with fury and confusion. 

Xavier wiped the corner of his mouth with his thumb, his expression unreadable. "A lesson." 

She narrowed her eyes. "A lesson in what, exactly?" 

"That you may be my wife, but that doesn't mean you understand me." He stepped back, his demeanor shifting back to that infuriating, composed arrogance. "And it certainly doesn't mean you can tempt me so easily." He further added. 

Myra glared at him furiously, her chest rising and falling with heightening frustration. "Tempt you? You kissed me!", she yelled. 

He smirked. "And yet, you're the one who seems shaken." 

She wanted to throw something at him. Preferably something expensive and breakable. "You are the most -" 

Before she could complete her sentence, he interrupted, "Careful now, darling," his voice teasing. "You might start sounding like a real wife." 

"Which you are not." Xavier spoke those last sentence heavily, as if he was warning her. 

Myra just felt stupid at this point, but there was fury burning behind her eyes. 

"You live here now. This is your home as much as it is mine. I do not want any gossips, of my wife living separately, tainting my reputation, reputation of the Westwoods." Xavier added with conviction and a dangerous tone. 

"This building is solely for us, and this is our room. Consider this our matrimony room." Xavier continued as he strode towards the large ornate door of the room. 

With those words, he left, the door clicking shut behind him, leaving Myra alone in the grand, suffocating luxury of what seemed like her new prison. 

Her hands clenched into fists. 

She hated him. 

She hated the way he made her feel. 

Myra always knew he wanted something from her, and no, she didn't think it had to do with her wanting her, as she knew his type really well - buxom beauties with seductive gazes, the kind that commanded attention effortlessly. Compared to them, she was nothing. 

And one thing Myra was definitely certain about - she was not his type and he really didn't want her physically. He had to want something from her father's doomed business. Why else would he offer to help pay back her debt and marry her? She didn't think a man like Xavier Westwood, would marry her to protect her. Perhaps he married her to protect what was valuable within her father's business. She had to find out what it was that made her father's company so valuable to him, that he would risk high society and also his family's disapproval. 

It was clear to Myra that she was not welcomed by the Westwoods. Furthermore, their taunts during dinner had been clearly designed to indicate that she did not belong in their society - their blue blooded family. She had to find a way to pay Xavier back and get out of this twisted arrangement. 

There was something else she truly feared. Deep down, she knew her entanglement with Xavier would be reprehensible. She knew a lot of woman who had fallen for the charms of Xavier Westwoods, only to be labeled a fool and a tool for use by Xavier. 

Xavier had awakened something in her tonight - something she didn't want to acknowledge. She also knew his good looks helped push that seduction up a notch, and she also knew she was a fool. She was a naive daughter of her father, who knew nothing of her father's trouble till he died. 

And a naive fool, in the hands of the mighty Xavier Westwood? Now that was the most dangerous part of all.