Bound by Tension
41

"Mom, this makes absolutely no sense." I said to Mia, scanning myself in the mirror. Though Kim had done wonders to my face and hair to make me look more stunning than ever and the wedding dress was screaming its expensiveness, this entire day was a shithole to me. "How and why?" Nikita rolled her eyes, standing in front of me to view herself in the mirror. "Whoa, I'm in love with how I look."

"How and why? I'm literally being forced into this marriage, it's really wrong. Hames has proven to be a terrible person once again." I walked up to Mia.

"I agree it was wrong of him to force you but I'd definitely do that also if I were in his place. To have the man I want as mine completely?" Nikita scoffed. "He waited for too long. I'd have done this the next month after falling in love rather than two years."

"You're one lucky babe and I'm so happy for you because I'm certain you won't replace anyone better than Hames who loves you. You've never been lucky in love and none of the men you've been with were able to bear with some of your crazy attitude but I'm certain Hames would." Lila added.

"If only both of you would shut the hell up and let me speak with my mother. You're both a bad influence and I'll only trust my mother's words." I turned to Mia. "I need the best advice."

Mia sighed, having the happiest expression on. "Your husband-to-be definitely seems like a good partner. I agree with Lila on the fact that you've never been lucky in love."

"How can you tell whether or not he seems like a good guy just by looking at him? You don't know him but I've been working as his secretary for a good amount of time to know that he's terrible."

All three of them shared glances at one another then burst into laughter.

"What's so funny?"

"You're so clueless. Hames has met all three of us." Nikita said between her laughter.

Mia ended her laughter with a chuckle. "He came to me to ask for my permission to propose to you but I guess he was unable to do it due to lack of time." Good thing he didn't do it else I'd have rejected his proposal but was still going to get married to him anyway. "He told me a lot of things he has done for you and I'm certain you won't ever replace a guy better than him. He made me feel happier than I had ever felt since I got married."

"He should at least give me a chance to fall in love first, don't you get it?"

"I definitely do, sweetheart. I want what's best for you as your mother and in a way, you have no other option. Lila told me about the contract." She shrugged.

"You'll just have to accept the fact that he's your husband. The earlier you accept it, the better it will be." Lila walked up to me and held my shoulders.

"Please hurry up, you won't be late to your own wedding, would you? The photographer is waiting for us before we leave for the church, my church." Mia winked.

***

With my arm around Mia's, we walked down the aisle of the extremely big church that had a lot of empty chairs.

I could tell this was going to be a very boring wedding because there were only 12 people here; Trisha, Kade, Jovi, the Pastor, 3 photographers, Lila, Nikita, Mia and definitely me and Hames.

I glanced at Trisha who grinned at me. Anyone could read the happiness on her face from a million miles away. I returned her smile with a slight wave.

We reached the altar. I stood in front of Hames and let go Mia with Lila and Nikita behind me while Kade was behind Hames, and the Pastor in front of us.

Mia walked to have her seat between Trisha and Jovi.

"We're gathered here on this beautiful day for the wedding of Hames Hendrix and Imogen Mark." The pastor started but I couldn't seem to listen any further. My eyes were fixed on Hames. Jeez, I was really getting married to this Man. It felt like a crazy dream.

It could probably turn out to be a good thing since Hames loved me but what if it didn't turn out to be? I was scared of the journey I was driving into.

As the Pastor was speaking on the importance of the wedding vows we were about to take, worry instantly filled me due to Hames' expression. I had expected him to look really excited but instead he had a very blank expression that scared my body and soul. It wasn't an expression convincing me that all was going to be well. I doubted if he was listening to the Pastor either.

I was drawn out of my pool of thoughts when Hames took a ring from the pillow and cleared his throat.

"You are the strength I didn't know I needed, and the joy that I didn't know I lacked. Today, I, Hames Hendrix, choose to take you, Imogen Mark, as my beloved wife. You have made me the happiest man in the world today..." he didn't look like he was happy, "...by agreeing to share your life with me. I promise to cherish and respect you, I promise to care for you and protect you, I promise to comfort and encourage you. I promise to love you for who you are, and for who you are yet to become. I promise to be patient, I promise to nurture your dreams and to help you reach them. I promise to share my whole heart with you, and to remember to show you how deeply I care for you, no matter the challenges that may come our way. I promise to love you loyally and fiercely-as long as I shall live." He said his wedding vows.

I stared at him in silence, not saying a word. Did he just say all of that without reading it?

"Please say your vow to him." The Pastor snapped me back to reality.

Lila passed a paper to me. I held up the small paper of the wedding vows I had written because there was definitely no way I was saying my vow to him from my heart. "I, Imogen Mark, take you, Hames Hendrix, to be my beloved husband. I promise to have and to hold you, to be at your side in good times and bad times. I promise to love and cherish you always, to be the best wife to you, for all the days of my life." I read the vow and stealthily returned the paper to Lila. "With these vows, you agree to take Imogen Mark as your lawfully wedded wife in good and in bad times and seal it with this ring?"

"Yes, I do." Hames replied. Still not smiling, he held my left hand and slid the ring on my ring finger.

"Imogen Mark, with these wedding vows, you now agree to take him as your lawfully wedded husband and seal your union with this ring?"

"Yes, I do." I took the second ring from the pillow and wore it on his ring finger.

"I now pronounce you Husband and Wife. You may kiss your bride." The pastor grinned.

Mia and Trisha rose to their feet, clapping and squealing. Jovi also rose to her feet with a roll of her eyes, clapping too, while Lila and Nikita were cheering behind me.

Hames stepped closer to me, held my waist and lowered his head to connect our lips.

As much as I didn't want to, it seemed like something in me forced me to return his kiss. I felt shivers run down my spine and a weird type of excitement jolted in me, making my internals do a backflip and butterflies exploded in my stomach. Jeez, what sort of feeling was this?

Hames pulled away from the kiss and gave my cheek a peck before letting go of me.

"God bless your union. Happy Married Life." The pastor said.

Lila and Nikita both hugged me from behind while Kade hugged Hames.

Trisha and Mia walked up to us and Trisha hugged me too.

"I'm so happy to finally have a daughter-in-law. This is the happiest day of my life. May your marriage remain ever blessed." She grinned.

I returned her hug. "Thank you." I was glad she was a sweet person. I couldn't bear the torture of a crazy mother-in-law.

Could this day end already so I could know what to do next in my life?

***

The car pulled over in front of Hames' mansion then someone scuttled to it to open the door for us.

Hames got out of the car first, extending his hands to me. I rolled my eyes at him. "You know you can't come out of this car on your own due to the gown. Don't be so stubborn, dear wife."

I didn't say I wasn't going to take his hand, I only rolled my eyes. I took his hand then he helped me out of the car.

"I can't believe I'm finally married to you after waiting for two years." He smiled.

"So you can smile again?"

"Uh?" He raised an eyebrow in confusion.

"You didn't smile all through the ceremony." I made that known to him.

"It's definitely because I didn't want to express my overexcitement and the only person who deserves to see me smile excessively is you." He pulled me closer to him. I squeaked as he lifted me in a bridal style. "I love you, Imogen." He kissed my cheek and started walking towards the building.

Someone opened the door again for him to carry me in.

My heart began to throb really fast against my rib cage. The realization of the fact that I was now married to Hames Hendrix hit me again, my blood was replaced with a pool of fear.

Still smiling, he climbed up the stairs then a familiar maid opened the door to his room and shut it after he stepped in.

My heart had throbbed to the point of almost bursting out of its cage.

"Put me down," my chest rose and fell rapidly.

He walked up to the bed and dropped me on it, sitting beside me.

I flinched from him and got out of the bed, breathing heavily.

"Are you okay?" He asked with worry and perplexion drawn on his face.

I moved backwards, trying to catch my breath.

"Jeez, please don't tell me you're going with the I'll sleep on the bed, you'll sleep on the couch shit." He rose to his feet and walked up to me.

I waited till I was able to catch my breath then gazed at him with a blank expression.

"Hello?" He waved a hand in front of my face. "Do you have anything to say?"

Of course I had billions of things to say.

"The bed is big enough for both of us, don't be dramatic." He rolled his eyes.

"Did I say I'm sleeping on the couch?" I folded my arms across my chest.

He laughed. "I'm not sleeping on the couch, not at all. Don't expect that."

"I can't sleep alone. Why else would I be sharing a bed with Nikita when we have an extra bedroom in our house?"

"Uh? You share a bed with Nikita?"

"Oh, you didn't stalk me up to that extent? Great." I glanced at the bed. "Sleeping alone on a bed gives me some kind of trauma. It's been since I was a child, I slept with my Mom else I was going to experience a panic attack." He nodded. "I'm kinda confused here. So you don't sleep in the afternoon?"

"I do." I sighed, hating the fact that I was explaining something. "It's kinda complicated but as long as my brain is aware of the fact that I constantly share a bed with someone, I can sleep on that bed alone but not more than three days so I go to Lila's house if Nikita won't be home for so long." I explained.

A smirk slowly formed on his face. "That's cool."

I shot him a death stare. "My mental disorganization is cool to you?"

"In a way, yes, but not exactly."

I sighed. "I'd like to have a bath."

"Okay, I'll have a bath in a different bathroom, for tonight. A maid would be here to help you out." Was the help of a maid necessary?

He turned around and took his leave.

***

I laid on the bed beside Hames and covered myself with a duvet, turning my face away from him.

"You won't have dinner?" He asked.

"No, thank you." I replied.

"Hmm..."

"Hames, don't do anything stupid." I turned to face him.

"Stupid?" He lifted an eyebrow.

"Yes, don't you dare touch me." I warned.

He laughed. "I'm your husband and it's in the contract, but don't worry, I won't do anything intense with you without your permission. I'm not a terrible person. I'll wait till you agree that you're in love with me, you'll make the first move." A smile of relief washed my face. "Thank you."

"Anyway, I'll assure you that you'll love me back in less than a month. No woman can resist my charm, not even you."

"In your wildest dreams." I snorted.

"Really? It'll happen, let's wait and see." He smirked. "Goodnight, dear wife." He held my cheek with a boyish grin. "You're so beautiful."

I felt heat rise from my neck to my cheeks and turned away from him.

"I'm certain a month is way too long, judging from how much you blush when I call you beautiful and kiss you. You were blushing so much when I kissed you today at our wedding."

"That's an obvious lie." I rolled my eyes.

"Not at all. I had to stop myself from chuckling. I wished I had taken a photo of you, the photographer should have."

Blushing after the kiss could've been possible since it affected my brain so badly. I went silent, shutting my eyes. "Goodnight." I whispered to who now had the title of my husband. When was I going to accept that fact? Only heavens knew...