NAYA'S POV
SIX MONTHS AGO
"Naya dear…" My mother's voice pulled me out of my train of thought as I looked up from my fingers at her.
I noted the look in her eyes; it screamed the fact that she and Dad had no choice.
"Yes, mother?" I said as I tried to remain calm and maintain the little sanity I had left.
"Meet Ivan Anderson…" She trailed off at the fear of the unknown.
And I bet she couldn't contain her emotions any longer as my father spoke instead. "He's going to be your husband." He said simply.
"What?" My voice came off hoarse with a strange kind of emotion as I stared between my parents and my husband-to-be whose arrogant smirk clogged my pores with irritation.
"Yes, honey. You have to get married to him." My mother pressed her lips into a thin line like it was the hardest decision she'd ever made.
"B-But why? Why do I have to get married to a stranger?" I needed to actually understand my situation.
My father shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "You know our family's situation…" He trailed off.
I wasn't completely oblivious but they never mentioned the actual state of things to me.
"Our family's situation?" I asked.
My father shifted uncomfortably on his seat yet again and tried to avoid my eyes. "We are extremely high on debt and your marriage to this young man here.. will make things right for our family."
"What?" I was afraid to admit even to myself that I was only a pawn in this game, and I didn't have to ask why it should be me because I'm my family's only child.
My lips trembled. "I... I don't…" My voice broke, and tears threatened to fall at the thought that my parents never told me anything, and now, I'll have to get married to a total stranger just to settle our family's debt and fulfill my responsibilities as their daughter.
"Naya honey, please understand that your father and I have arranged for this marriage with the Andersons so that we will be able to get back on our feet. We apologize that it's sudden, but it's sadly the only way out." My mother said as tears sparkled in her eyes.
I glanced at the man that I was supposed to marry; he was now at the far end of our sitting room with his phone glued to his ears.
Tears burned in my eyes, and I wanted to plead with my parents to exempt me from this whole arrangement, but I bore the weight of being a good and responsible daughter.
I brought my gaze back to my parents. "Mom… Dad… please…" I croaked out in an attempt to probably change their minds.
"I'm sorry, child. It's the only way." My father said and stood up from his seat to walk away from my situation.
My mother also stood up from her seat as she stared at her husband's back before she approached me slowly and held my hand in hers.
"I'm really sorry Naya, but there's nothing else we can do." She mumbled under her breath.
"But mother…"
"Shh.. darling, don't say anything else because it's done." She said conclusively.
"What?" I heard myself say.
Then she nodded slightly at the thought of something. "He's your husband, you're now his. So I'm just going to give you both some privacy to talk." She said as she let go of my hand and walked away from me.
I instantly grabbed a handful of my skirt as I saw our guest approach me slowly.
Where are my big girl pants? Because without them I suddenly wondered how I would be able to face this man whose presence intimidates me.
"You look so timid.. and fortunately for me, that's how I like my women." He chuckled dryly.
I scoffed at his words, and I wondered how I was supposed to live with this man.
I furrowed my brows at him. "Why did you even agree to this?"
He chuckled softly. "I didn't, actually, my parents did. So I'm just here to fulfill my responsibility as their son, just as you're supposed to fulfill your responsibility as your parent's daughter." He took a step closer.
I shook my head. "I don't want you." I took a step back.
"Who says you have a choice?" He blurted as I stared wide-eyed at him.
"And besides, wanting me shouldn't be your problem because I intend to make you want me inside of you every day of your life!" He said as he immediately pulled me against him.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. "What are you doing?"
Then he pinned me up against the wall. "You look like you want some…" He trailed off as his lips came in contact with my neck, nibbling and sucking.
"I don't want…" I began to say but the moan that escaped from the back of my throat betrayed me.
"See? I know you do." He said against my neck.
My body shamelessly responded to his touch and I equally lost the will to protest.
"You want me, don't you?" He asked as he pressed my waist and tugged at my skirt.
Before I could register anything else, his hand crawled under my skirt and tugged at my pants. As soon as his fingers grazed my core, I found myself grabbing his huge frame for support.
"Tell me you want me..." His breath tickled my ears and sent shivers down my spine.
His hand parted my thighs. "Say it." He commanded.
I shuddered under his touch. "I w-want you," I mumbled.
"Come on now, say it a little louder. Your parents are not here to hear you squirm under my touch." He brought his hand on my cleavage.
My heart pounded desperately against my chest. "I want you." I said as he brought his lips against mine.
Then, I silently prayed that there wouldn't come a time when I would have to curse this union.