Chapter 9: Last Freedom

He sat on the edge of the bed and waited for her to do the same.

Contemplating for a while, she followed his suit.

Desmond opened the tube which appeared to be an ointment and started applying it over the reddened area around her wrist.

"There is no need—"

"If this bruises tomorrow everyone will think that I hurt you," he stated. "I don't want to get accused because you have issues with another man."

"No one will accuse you." She tried to retrieve her hand back when he grabbed it again.

"Stop….being…so…stubborn," He glared at her. They were not even married yet and she was already getting on his nerves. When she stopped moving, he continued applying the medication.

He frowned at the sight of her reddened skin. It made his blood boil. "I should have killed that motherfu*cker." And someday he would.

Ferdinand had not only tried to snoop around his house but also hurt something that belonged to him.

"You are not going to do anything to him," Elsa looked at him. "Ferdinand is not one of us. He has no idea how things work—"

"You are seriously trying to defend him after he—'' Desmond gritted his teeth. Here he was getting mad, planning to kill the man who hurt her and she was boldly taking his side.

"I am not—"

"He tried to touch what is MINE," he stated. "And no one touches something that belongs to me. Do you understand?"

"I am not yours," She jerked his hand away.

"Yet." He lightly grabbed her chin. "But that will change in a week's time, won't it?"

"I will never be yours," Elsa stated. She felt chills down her spine when he smirked.

She shivered when he caressed her chin with his thumb and he moved closer.

"Is that a challenge?" He slipped his hand from her chin to the back of her neck. The initial determination and boldness in her eyes slowly dissipated.

There was no doubt Elsa was a bold and strong woman, someone who wouldn't get intimidated easily. She was a Marino after all, she grew up with three overpowering men who taught her well. But behind the mask she was trying so hard to pull off, she was an innocent woman who was trying to cope with the world she was born into.

A strong and bold woman like Elsa is what Desmond wanted by his side to rule the reign he was about to take over from his father. But he didn't want her to feel the need to mask herself when she was with him. He wanted to see her vulnerability, her innocence, every side of hers.

"Let me go Desmond." Elsa's voice was shaky. Her voice was lathered with nervousness.

She gasped a little when he pulled her closer. She wanted to push him away, slap his hand away but she also couldn't stop thinking about what would happen next, what he would do next.

"Didn't you say I could touch you whenever and wherever I want?" The surprise in her eyes made him chuckle, "Don't say things you can't handle."

…..

[Three Days Later]

[The Shallow]

"Oh come on, will you cheer up?" Carl placed the 'King' plastic crown over Demond's head. "It's your bachelorette party after all."

"Have you lost all your hormones four days before your wedding?" Greg chuckled.

"I told you people I don't need a bachelorette party." He tossed the crown on the table.

He was in his office working when the three of them dragged them to the club for a celebration which he had previously denied.

"Do you want me to call Anna for you?" Justin grinned.

"Are you obsessed with Anna or something?" Desmond scoffed. "Why do you always keep suggesting her name?"

"Well—" He shrugged. "She is your favorite."

"I don't do favorites." iDesmond took a sip of his drink but he froze midway when his eyes landed on a familiar figure who had just entered the club.

Holding his drink, he walked towards the glass wall from where he could clearly see each and everything that was happening downstairs.

He tightened his grip on his glass when the man beside Elsa pulled her closer and whispered something in her ears, making her blush.

"Damn, she looks hot.," Carl chuckled beside him. "Looks like you aren't the only one who is celebrating their last freedom tonight."

Desmond did not say anything. He glared at Elsa and the man who had walked into his club.

…..

[Near the Bar]

"This isn't a good idea." Elsa nervously chugged down her drink the bartender had just presented her.

"Oh come on," Oliver smacked her shoulder. "We are out celebrating your bachelorette party. Will you relax and enjoy the vibe?"

"And we couldn't do it in our club? Why here?" She nervously looked around. They were in Shallow, one of the clubs that the Fedorov's owned. She was not comfortable with the idea of celebrating her bachelorette in her future husband's club.

"Will you relax?" He rolled his eyes. "Where is the fun if we celebrate it in your club where your brothers have people all over to keep a close eye on you?"

"You are going to get me into so much trouble," she sighed. "Why did I even agree to this?"

"Because you love me, sexy." He winked at her before leaning closer. "Is it just me or is the bartender super hot? My imagination is running wild thinking how he would look without his clothes."

...