Lost and lonely

Iris found herself lying naked in bed with her supposed brother-in-law. Her back was facing his front and his arm is wrapped around her waist. One of his palms is touching and caressing the small black color birth mark sitting in the valley between her breasts. Its slightly raised and he can feel it with his finger tips. She didn't know if she should like his touch the way she does. This is a sin. Her body never came alive when Chase used to touch her kiss her in the past.

Iris is in a daze. She is pretending as Natasha, her sister, and deceived the powerful Knight heir. If this is discovered, then she is too scared to even imagine the consequences.

Iris is still processing everything. She has a boyfriend, but she cheated on him with Xavier. That thought alone is making her feel guilty.

'This is to save my family. I will break up with Chase, he deserves better' she told herself.

Just then, Xavier's mobile rang loudly. She placed it on her side of the nightstand after speaking with her mother.

"Kitten, can you pass on my mobile?" he phrased it like a request, but it sounded like a command.

"Hmm" she hummed and helped him. He removed his hand from around her body, much to her relief. Before she could even sigh, he turned her to face him and wrapped his other hand around her. He moved her with ease as if she weighs nothing. She is thin and short at 5'3, while he is 6'2. Now her front is squished to his hard muscular chest.

"Boss, your meeting will begin in another 20 minutes" she could hear Xavier's assistant speaking.

'Meeting? Who would schedule a meeting on their wedding night?' Iris looked baffled.

"Cancel and reschedule for tomorrow. Don't disturb me again tonight" Xavier replied before disconnecting the call.

"You became stiff when you heard about the meeting" he pointed out.

Iris is stunned that he noticed everything.

"No.." she whispered, trying to sound like Natasha.

"You know very well that our marriage is just to expand our business, nothing less, nothing more. You are surprisingly hot in bed. I will not take any other women, and I expect the same from you. Arrangements have been made to move you to the Knight manor. We do not share a room. I will come to your room once a week. Once you get pregnant, your life is yours and my life is mine" he iterated the terms of their business marriage.

Iris doesn't know any of this. Knowing Natasha's personality, this Arrangement would suit her. But for Iris, she would want to marry for love. Today's marriage was between Xavier and Natasha. She was just a substitute until Natasha could claim her position.

"I understand" she whispered again. She is scared that he might recognize that she is not Natasha if she speaks normally.

"Can I go visit my sister tomorrow?" she requested. She is planning to leave before he could wake up and recognize that he was scammed. If she left without telling him, he might become suspicious of her abrupt departure.

"Alright" he agreed after a brief pause.

.....

The next morning, Iris left the hotel room before the sun rise. She hastily picked up one of his shirts. Because of their size difference, his shirt reached till her mid thigh, actually making it look like a dress.

She quickly went to the Jones Residence and stood under the shower. The tears she had been holding back started to fall. She felt worst. She cheated two men in one day. She composed herself quickly. She washed her body until it turned red and raw, as if it would erase what happened the previous night. She got dressed in a full sleeves turtle neck sweater and black jeans. She saw the marks on her body left by Xavier. So she is hiding them, hiding her shame, hiding the truth.

Iris reached hospital just when the sun was rising. When she entered Natasha's room, Candace gasped when she noticed her.

"Iris?" Candace whispered and quickly escorted her outside the room again. Natasha was still sleeping.

"Are you alright? Did Xavier suspected anything?" Candace inquired.

Iris shook her head.

"No, he didn't suspect anything. He thinks that he married Natasha and it was Natasha last night" she whispered, feeling vulnerable and fragile.

Candace sighed with relief.

"I was so worried that we might get caught. Your dad didn't know that it was you last night, and so did Natasha. Iris, you did so much for our family. Can you do one more thing and not tell both of them about last night? Your dad might never forgive himself if he finds out. And you know Natasha, she doesn't like to share her things. Let keep the peace in the family, alright?" Candace requested.

Iris nodded mutely, unable to speak anything. She wanted a warm hug from Candace, the only maternal figure she ever knew. But Candace is worried about everything except Iris. At that moment, Iris felt so lost and lonely.