Ismeralda 
 
~*~*~*~ 
The wedding guests had just finished having dinner and everybody was now dancing.  
Ismeralda tried to have a good time but she kept thinking about what would happen after they were done at the reception and they had to go back to Adriano’s apartment.  
They’d have to consummate their union and that was scary. Adriano had probably done it multiple times and that thought made her cringe. She’d never done it before, she’d never even been kissed until today at the altar. In truth, she didn’t think she was ready.  
She had always imagined that her first time would be with a man she loved and who loved her right back. She didn’t know Adriano well enough to have even fallen in love with him and she was sure as hell that he wasn’t in love with her either.  
It also scared her because Adriano didn’t look like a gentle man. He looked like he was rough with women. He had been a gentleman with her since the beginning but that was only because that was what was expected of him.  
“Ismeralda, care for a dance?” Julio, Adriano’s brother asked breaking her out of her reverie.  
She looked up at him and smiled. Julio looked just like his bother. They had the same thick black hair and nicely shaped face. The only difference between the two brothers was that Julio had heterochromia. One eye was grey like his father’s own and the other was blue like that of his mother. It wasn’t creepy the way it sounded, it actually made him look so handsome. He was younger than Adriano and was the Enforcer for the Lato Oscuro.  
“Yes, I would love to.” She replied and she put her hand in his.  
They moved over to the middle of the dancefloor and he pulled her close to him.  
“So how does it feel being a married woman?” He asked trying to start a conversation and put her at ease.  
“It’s good, I guess. I won’t know till we start living together.” She said and he let out a soft chuckle.  
“That’s true. Look, just be a bit patient with my brother. He’ll get the hang of this whole marriage thing eventually.” 
“Neither of us even know how this marriage would be like.” She replied.  
“Yeah, but you might handle it better than he would. He was very strong about not wanting to get married but my parents would hear none of it.” Julio said making the Ismeralda inhale a sharp breath.  
He had just confirmed that Adriano was literally forced to marry her. That was the case for the two of them but the only difference was that she had made her peace with the marriage. She was okay with getting married to him but he still didn’t want to marry her.  
“No, don’t let that make you lose hope in the marriage. Adriano is a very complicated man and he has been through a lot, more than most made men have been forced to go through but I’m sure with time he’ll let you in.” 
“But how do I get through to him, Julio?” She asked.  
“Well, there’s no real answer to that question. As I said, he is very complicated, but you are a smart girl, you’ll figure it out. Just be patient with him, he will come around.” He said then took a step back.  
He took my hand in his and kissed the back of it. “It was a pleasure to dance with you and the talk too.” 
“You too.” She replied sweetly and smiled at him.  
Immediately he walked away, Adriano took his position. He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her really close to him.  
“What did Julio tell you?” He asked.  
“Nothing, he was just congratulating me on the wedding.” She lied easily.  
“Really? Is that why the conversation lasted so long?” She knew he didn’t believe her but she wasn’t going to tell him what they had discussed about.  
“He also said I look good. Something you haven’t told me today.” 
“I don’t give out compliments.” He replied with a slight shrug.  
Ismeralda was so pissed, it took all her self-control not to lash out and throw a snide remark at him. 
“It is now time for the bride and groom to go to their new home.” The master of ceremonies announced.  
The crowd started to clap and cheer. “But before they do, kiss her!” Julio yelled.  
“Kiss her! Kiss her!” the crowd started to chant.  
Adriano pulled her into his arms and placed his lips on hers. This kiss was a bit more thorough than the one on the altar and it made her feel hot all over. It shot a chill up her spine but it was a good feeling. It was amazing. She was very sad when he pulled away.  
He took her hand and led her towards the exit of the Ferrari mansion.  
Soon her nerves had spiked up and her body started to shake. What would happen when they got to his mansion?”  
With the way he’d kissed her, he’d definitely want to consummate their union today.  
The crown gathered around the parking lot so they could see them leave. She hugged her mom, her dad, Sienna and Gabriele goodbye before going to where Adriano’s car was park with him.  
His car was parked just in front of the mansion. When she saw the car, she almost squealed like a little girl. She’d always had an obsession with cars and looking at the beauty that was his car made her want to run mad.  
It was the car she had always hoped to have; a 2021 Chevy Corvette C8.  
She had to stop herself from gazing at the car dreamily.  
Adriano took her hand and led her to the passenger’s side where he opened the door for her. She got in excitedly and closed the door herself.  
For a few moments, she had forgotten about her nerves until Adrian came into the car and started the engines.  
He drove out of the parking lot slowly as people waved at them but then he picked up speed when they got to the gate and he drove out. Now it was only the two of them in the car and the air was thick with tension.  
Ismeralda didn’t know how to ask him if he could wait for her to be ready before they did anything.  
As if the he had read her mind he said, “You don’t have to do what you don’t want to do tonight.”  
She exhaled a deep breath. Thank God.  
“Thank you so much for that. I really wasn’t ready to do it tonight.” 
“It would have to happen sometime, it is inevitable.” He spoke coldly this time.  
She cleared her throat and said, “Yeah, I know but just for today.” 
“Yeah, just for today.”