Chapter V: Intimacy Issues

Nicole had spent the last two weeks doing various wedding preparations and the time was finally here for her to walk down the altar. During that time, she and Salvatore had interacted a little since they had to corporate on all the wedding errands. She didn't get the big white wedding she wanted, instead, they compromised on a simple and small June wedding in a church. 

She had just met the man less than a month ago and now she was marrying him.

The sudden realization had her stomach twist in discomfort and she found herself clutching the front of her silk robe, her bridesmaids all too busy setting everything up for them to notice the evident distress Nicole was experiencing.

"Come on!" One of them turned to her, blissfully ignorant to her emotional turmoil. "Let's get you fitted into the dress!" 

A knock on the door had everyone look up, seeing Rosalie standing in the doorway with her husband beside her, in a beautiful off-shoulder cream dress and a black tux respectively. 

"Sir," The three men around the dressing room stood in greeting with Salvatore in front of the full-length mirror, fumbling with his bow tie. 

Rosalie made her way over to her son, chuckling at the mess he had made, before turning him to redo his bow. 

"How do you feel?" Arcangelo asked, settling down on one of the benches, taking one of the glasses of champagne placed in the trey. 

"I feel alright," He lied through his teeth. He felt nervous, but he could never show it to the world. This was his wedding day, he was getting married, that also to a virtual stranger. 

"Your bowtie suggests otherwise," Rosalie spoke up in front of him. 

"You know bow ties aren't my forte," 

"Ties are," Arcangelo nodded, downing the drink as Salvatore looked at his father with a raised eyebrow. 

"Wow, dad, you're drinking like you're the one getting married," He teased as his father laughed. 

"On my wedding, I didn't have a single glass of alcohol," He chuckled. "I had no need for it since I was marrying the love of my life. Which can't be said for you," 

"Please, not this again," The Mafia boss groaned and stepped away from his mother, picking up his tux jacket as Piero helped him put it on. "Not the whole you-don't-love-her-and-you-should-marry-the-one-you-love talk, dad. You and I both agreed this was a beneficial merger."

"From a Mafia standpoint, not from a parent's point of view," 

"Sorry to say, the Mafia Boss and your son are the same people," Salvatore shook his head, pinning the white rose onto his lapel and momentarily glancing up in the mirror to see everyone watching him. "What are you all waiting for? Go take your places, 2 minutes left," He shook his head, gesturing for them to step out.

All of them jumped out of their stupor and made their way out, the groom shaking his head as he watched them leave. Pinning the flower in place, he stood straight before looking at himself in the mirror. He wore black dress pants with a white undershirt and a charcoal grey tux jacket with black lapels. Running his hands through his hair one last time, he fixed his appearance before making his way out of the dressing room, realizing it was time to get married. 

"Do you, Nicole Helena Lombardi take Salvatore Emilio Regnante as your lawfully wedded husband to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

"I do." Nicole put the band around his finger.

She had chosen a rather simple platinum band with the Celtic symbol of eternity engraved around it. Nicole had no idea why she didn't go for a plain one and chose to have eternity etched into the metal. 

"And do you, Salvatore Emilio Regnante take Nicole Helena Lombardi as your lawfully wedded wife to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?"

"I do" Salvatore slid the ring on her finger. Her wedding ring was a platinum band with an oval emerald in the center and diamonds decorating the sides.

"You may now kiss the bride." The minister informed as Nicole looked up at Salvatore uncertainly, the anxiety causing her stomach to twist into knots. Inhaling deeply, he cupped her face into his hands and leaned down as Nicole shut her eyes. Instead of placing a kiss on her lips, he kissed the edge, not quite touching. And it suddenly occurred to her that to anyone other than them, it would seem like he's kissing her.

No soon had the realization occurred, a round of applause confirming her suspicion as he pulled away, momentarily looking at the shocked expression across her face before offering his arm to her. Linking her arm through his, the two walked down the aisle as people threw flowers on their way.

The reception was very elegant with a cream and white theme and everyone enjoying themselves. Salvatore and Nicole were seated at the head table with their parents beside them. She noticed that the Regnantes' all welcomed her with open arms, her own father sharing their enthusiasm, but her mother was an entirely different matter.

After the best man speech and the dancing and food, Nicole went off to get changed since the two would be leaving soon. 

Salvatore had been the one to insist that they get married as soon as possible because he had a business matter to deal with in France and wanted to get this done before he left for a month. His initial plan was to get married in a gathering consisting only of immediate family, let Nicole stay with her parents as he dealt with his dealings, and then return to get her. However, the plan changed and he ended up with a small wedding, and his new wife would be joining him in France for a month-long honeymoon in Versailles.

Soon she returned in a sleeveless form-fitted black pencil skirt dress that reached her knees. Golden necklace and earrings in place as she held a black clutch in her hand, walking over to her husband and offered him a weak smile as he nodded in response.

"At least open the gifts you two got each other before leaving!" Serafina exclaimed from the front table and instantly people shouted various forms of agreement. "Come on!"

Salvatore gave his twin a glare before settling everyone with a raised hand, agreeing to open the gifts they had gotten each other.

Nicole, not having known the man long, decided on a small gift and held out the box for him.

Opening it, his eyebrows raised at the sight of the silver Rolex Oyster Perpetual placed in the cushioning. Taking it out, he held the watch in his hand before taking off his black and gold Rolex, replacing it with the one he had just received. Moving his hand he gave an impressed nod at the comfort of the watch.

"It's beautiful." He told Nicole, everyone clapping as she couldn't help but smile.

She felt further relieved to see Salvatore hold out a small palm-sized box to her, knowing that they had the same thought. He watched as his wife opened the box, her breath hitching in her throat at what lay inside. Instant murmurs broke out as she hesitantly took out the contents: an Audi fob and a Kate Spade keychain. Seeing the gift everyone froze up before Nicole looked up at him with wide eyes.

"You didn't,"

Rolling his eyes in half-hearted exasperation, Salvatore took hold of her hand and led her outside. As they stood in the fading sunlight, they found a glossy black Audi R8 Spyder standing at the foot of the stairs.

"My wedding gift to you," Salvatore gestured to the car as Nicole pressed the button on the fob, the car making a beeping noise causing her to let out a shriek and covering her mouth in shock that he had actually gotten her an Audi.

"Can I?" She asked with a laugh, her eyes wide with surprise as Salvatore couldn't help but let a little smile crack across his lips.

"Be my guest."

A joyous laugh escaped her as she bounded down the stairs, opening the door before settling in the seat. Everyone watched her take in the car's interior before it purred to life, then let out a monstrous roar as she put her foot on the accelerator. The smile on her face was so wide Salvatore could even notice the mirth in her eyes as she stepped out, locking the car behind her and making her way to him, surprising him with a hug, holding onto him tightly before letting go, smiling up at him.

"It's gorgeous. I love it!"

Salvatore gave her a smile as he watched her interlace her fingers with his.

"Ready to go?"

"Can we take the Audi?"

"No, we're going in the Rolls Royce, and Marco will take the Audi-"

"-Aria," Nicole interjected with a grin. "I named her Aria."

"Marco will take Aria back to the estate then." He held out his hand for the fob as she handed it to him uncertainly. "Don't worry; no one will drive her while you're away."

Taking the fob, he handed it to Marco, who hugged his brother in farewell, wishing him all the best before walking towards the car.

Soon Nicole and Salvatore were sitting in his private jet for the 4-hour flight to Versailles; throughout the time it took them to get to the hanger, the smile never left her face.

"Nicole," Salvatore redirected her attention from the plane window. "I'm going to Versailles for business, which means I'll be busy a lot of the time and might not come to the room until late. And one thing I want to warn you against is that you can't try and eavesdrop on my business transactions. I move with a dangerous crowd. The kind of men I don't want knowing you exist."

"If you're going for business, why take me along?"

"It wasn't my decision, your father insisted, and then my parents thought it a good idea and I didn't get much say in the matter after that."

"What am I supposed to do then?"

"You can do whatever you want." He shrugged. "But I'll be there tonight; my business starts from tomorrow afternoon."

The rest of the flight was spent with little chatter as Salvatore took this time to get some shut-eye, feeling like he hadn't slept in days and just passed out cold. Eventually having to be woken when the plane touched down before they made their way to the hotel they would be staying at. 

Nicole felt like she was receiving one surprise after another when she learned they'll be staying in the presidential suite for the month they were here.

Once they entered the suite, Nicole took the liberty to roam around before pushing open their bedroom doors. It was elegant with a black king-sized bed before her, a grey ottoman bench at the foot of the bed. The cover was white but had golden silk pillowcases. A cream-colored two-seater was to her left with a glass coffee table before it and two high-backed chairs on either side rested in front of the window and the floor beneath her was a light brown carpet. Looking around her, she found all their bags standing against the wall behind her. 

Turning around, she found Salvatore attending a phone call in the lounge as she inhaled deeply, trying to calm her nerves that were beginning to act up at the impending events of the night. Before her fear froze her entirely, she opened her bag and took out all the things that she needed.

Salvatore talked into the phone, having made his way into the bedroom, slowly taking off his suit. His shoes were placed by the door with his suit jacket tossed on the bed, and he was prying off the bowtie in front of the window. He was exhausted and just wanted to sleep. 

He heard the washroom open behind him but didn't pay it much mind as he tried to end the phone call, the man on the other end testing his patience. 

"Goodnight, Mr. Rizzo," Salvatore disrupted him mid-sentence and ended the call. Muttering in Italian under his breath, he turned off the phone and ran a hand through his hair.

Turning around, his eyes caught sight of Nicole sitting on top of the covers, wearing a white lace babydoll chemise with her face flushed , and her eyes fixated on him. Salvatore instantly noticed the confidence melt away as he caught sight of her.

Nicole's breath hitched in her throat as he made his to her and she couldn't help but fidget in her spot, feeling embarrassed under his gaze.

"I...I was told to wear this-" Nicole murmured quietly, feeling him looming over her as her heart thundered hard against her chest, so much so that she was afraid of it jumping out; her stomach twisting in her anxiety and her throat closing up with fear. 

He didn't say anything as he leaned forward, Nicole hunching her shoulders together as she fought the urge to push him away and closed her eyes tightly. Letting out a frightened yelp when she felt something brush over her shoulders. Snapping her eyes open, she looked up at Salvatore and realized he had draped his jacket over her and was fixing the front, covering her.  

And just like that, she did not know whether to feel relieved or affronted at his actions. 

"You have intimacy issues, Nicole," He took a step back, her breath hitching in her throat as she slipped her arms through the sleeves. "And I will not act like I am not aware of that fact. I do not know why you have them, and I hope that one day you feel comfortable enough to tell me. But until that day comes where you feel comfortable enough with me, I will not do anything that makes you react like this."

She couldn't help but stare at him in shock. 

Here she was giving herself to him because tradition demanded it – even if she didn't want to – and this man, her husband, refused because he didn't want her to be frightened.

"Why don't you change into something more comfortable, and we'll head off to bed, hmm?" Salvatore caressed her cheek, Nicole's heart jumping in her chest as it felt like the weight of the world suddenly lifted from her shoulders. She watched him sit down beside her, before falling back and covering his eyes with his arms. "I'm exhausted." 

The sudden urge to cry with relief overwhelmed Nicole as she swallowed the lump in her throat, and looked down at her husband's lying figure with a wobbly smile before stepping off the bed and making her way over to the washroom. 

Instantly stripping out of her lingerie she put on a grey silk cirrus pajama set with matching grey shorts. A relieved laugh bubbled through her as she couldn't help but hug herself. Removing her makeup and tying her hair into a braid over her shoulder, she stepped out once more, surprised to find Salvatore on top of the covers, having been too tired to change and instead just took off the clothes, asleep in nothing but his boxers. 

A chuckle escaped her as she covered him with the blanket, making her way over to the other side and slowly getting under the covers. Turning off the lights, she settled in bed before closing her eyes, falling asleep within minutes.