First Night Of Desire

Nikolai’s hands instinctively went to Cassie’s shoulders as he tried to gently push her away.

His jaw clenched and his body went still as stone. But that kiss had awakened something inside him... desire.

“Cassie—” he began, but the rest of his words died in his throat when her lips trembled against his.

She pulled back only enough to speak, her voice shaking with a pain that felt years old.

“Why is it,” she whispered, her words filled with bitterness and sorrow, “that no matter where I go… I’m always just an option to people?”

Her voice broke completely then, and the tears that had been threatening all evening finally burst forth. “I wasn’t enough for my own family… not enough for Raymond and his family… and even now, with you, I feel like I’m just part of some transaction.”

She broke down as she sobbed hard, her chest trembling against him. It was as if the dam of her composure had been holding for years and now... finally... it had split wide open.

Nikolai froze, unprepared for the raw, unguarded confession and emotions.

The Cassie he’d known until now had been composed, often guarded, even defiant when cornered. But this… this was a different side.

She looked up at him then, her eyes glistening like fragile crystal, her lips parted as if begging to be seen... truly seen for once in her life.

And in that moment, something shifted deep inside Nikolai.

He had told himself from the beginning that this marriage was just an arrangement. That helping her was strategic and nothing more.

He had told himself several times that feelings were irrelevant. But seeing her like this... utterly stripped of all her armor... made those walls inside him crack a little.

Without another word, he cupped her face with both hands and kissed her back, not with restraint, but with a hunger that startled even him. It was as if his body was moving on its own.

Cassie let out a soft gasp against his lips before melting into him completely, her arms looping around his neck as if he were the only anchor keeping her from falling apart.

The taste of wine lingered on her breath, mingling with the faint scent of her perfume. It was intoxicating for Nikolai.

Nikolai deepened the kiss, one arm snaking around her waist to pull her flush against him, the other threading into her hair.

Cassie responded with the same desire, her hands trembling as they roamed over the hard lines of his shoulders and chest.

The world beyond that room faded. All that mattered was their lips on each other.

With deliberate slowness, Nikolai broke the kiss and searched her face, silently asking if this was what she truly wanted.

Cassie, breathing heavily, gave him her answer in the way her hands tightened in his shirt and the way her gaze never wavered from his.

In one fluid motion, Nikolai swept her into his arms.

Cassie let out a small gasp, instinctively clutching at him as he carried her out of the study. Her heart started to beat faster. But she didn’t care about anything now. She just wanted to act recklessly and do what her mind wants.

They soon reached Nikolai’s bedroom. It was much bigger and more personal than the mansion’s other grand chambers. It was warm, intimate, and softly lit.

He set her down gently on the bed, his eyes holding hers for a long and silent moment. Then, without breaking that gaze, he leaned down to kiss her again, slower this time, as though savoring every second.

They both knew this wasn't supposed to be happening, especially Nikolai. But he couldn't stand the raw emotions he saw in Cassie's eyes. He wanted to prove her wrong for some reason... that she was wanted and needed.

Clothes became an afterthought as they tore them away.

The rest of the world didn’t matter. The only reality was the heat between them, the way her breath caught when his hands traced the curve of her waist, the way her nails grazed lightly over his skin.

For Cassie, every touch was a reminder that she was still here, still alive, still capable of feeling something other than numbness.

For Nikolai, every kiss unraveled the part of him that had sworn never to let anyone in.

They moved together with a desperate tenderness, as though both were afraid the other might disappear if they stopped.

And so, in the quiet sanctuary of that room, the two of them lost themselves in each other until the night itself seemed to fade away... and only their moans and breath could be heard.

********

By the time dawn’s light began seeping in through the curtains, the mansion was silent, except for the slow, steady rhythm of their breathing.

Cassie lay curled in Nikolai’s arms, her head resting against his bare chest, listening to the strong beat of his heart. For the first time in a long time, she felt… safe.

Nikolai’s hand absentmindedly traced small circles on her back, his thoughts unusually quiet.

He didn’t know what this meant for them or what complications might follow, but in this moment, he didn’t care.

Neither of them spoke for the rest of the night. There were no promises, no declarations... just the quiet comfort of two people who, for one night, had stopped fighting their own loneliness and gave in to their desires... on their first night of marriage.