THE CONTROL: An Arranged Marriage Romance by Elena Monroe (ebook reader android .txt) 📕

I wanted my answers from the source: Eve.

I wanted her to break for me like I already have for her, get rid of the rest of the poise and filters.

Back to my search, I whisper-shouted her name trying to find her while staying hidden from our moms. “Eve? Fuck.” I turned the corner down another hallway and kept shouting every few minutes.

Finally I heard a delicate voice shout back, “I’m in your bedroom. Come find me.”

Exactly where I didn’t want her—now this memory would be there every time I go to bed.

Swallowing the lump in my throat, I knew everyone was expecting this to happen tonight. That’s what a wedding night outlined—consummating your marriage.

The Clave was invested in making sure that happens. When they pick our partners for us, they consider sexual compatibility, and when the courting starts, we’re watched closely and expected to be perfect.

Not having sex tonight wasn’t an option, was it?

Pushing open the door, I kept my eyes low while I closed the door behind me. I knew this wasn’t going to end at finding her.

The walk from the door to my bed actually hurt as my hands shook. My hands always shook when I was drunk, but right now it was for other reasons.

Stopping at the bedpost, I leaned into it, my shoulder being engraved by the metal as I finally looked at her small frame in the middle of my bed. She barely sunk into it, she was so dainty and light—nothing like the Eve I knew.

The Eve I knew was someone who sank her teeth into you, could beat up guys twice her size, and didn’t talk in a small whisper like she did now.

“Is this going to hurt?”

Her legs unfolded for me and I looked between them still unsure if I wanted to move any closer. Her small panties didn’t really let me imagine anything. I could see an outline of her sex and a small wet spot on the fabric telling me she was turned on.

We had fooled around in my moments of weakness, but this was going to be different.

When she left, we were too young to be touching and kissing—giving into the fantasies driving our hormones. But I would be lying if I said I didn’t ever think of Eve like this. I would always imagine what she looked like older, developed as a woman. I refused to think about anyone else.

“I don’t know. Maybe?”

Doesn’t it hurt already?

Her head fell to one side while she slowly pulled the satin bow tail between her fingers, exposing her chest. Her small perky breasts and hard nipples were on full display for me, and I had to talk my own dick down from embarrassment.

“I saved myself for you. I always wanted it to be you, Bowey.”

Not what your ex-boyfriend said to you when I was eavesdropping.

I was still fully clothed watching Eve writher on my bed from behind a bedpost. I wanted to touch her so badly, but my demons who only knew the touch of men were dancing right now, and they were about to win in the fight for dominance.

“Stop embarrassing yourself by being so desperate when we both know someone else has heard you moan, right?”

Quickly closing her legs, she covered up her small breasts with the sheer robe she had on, and I bit my tongue so hard I hoped my teeth would cut right through it. It physically pained me to hurt her, and yet I kept up the bad habit.

“I hate you.” The tears were cascading down her face like a waterfall while I stood there soaking up her broken remarks.

Good, hate me.

Hate me so I can love the right version of you.

Hate me because I don’t deserve you.

“Who is Elias, Eve?” My eyes locked onto hers when she pulled hers away in shame. Pushing herself off the bed, she tried to escape, but I was quicker.

Making it to the bathroom door before she closed herself in, I wedged my dress shoe against the frame, stalling her plan to avoid me.

“What are you talking about?” She bit her words off in an angry tone that actually felt significantly less glossed over.

She was close to breaking.

“Did Denmark teach you to lie so well, Princess? You had me believing your purity act.” I watched her fold her arms over her still exposed body in the see-through lingerie.

I wanted to lick her tears away, replacing them with my mouth as punishment, but I pushed my palms into the doorframe to block her from running away instead.

“He’s no one. Denmark doesn’t matter anymore. God, Bowen! Every time you let yourself be happy with me you end up ripping it all to shreds! Fu-”

Her head dropped, catching her own words before she said them.

There’s that filter I need to break to get to my Evey.

Pushing myself against her back, I invaded her safe space with my hands gripping the counter around her small frame to box her in. I watched her in the mirror she faced, and the words barely grazed past my lips as I felt the closeness of our bodies. “Say it, Eve. Say it.”

I could see Eve pouring through, on the edge of being permanent.

She wanted to run away to adjust her Pretty Princess features in the bathroom alone, but I wasn’t going to condone running off the parts of her I loved. The sharp parts I was living to cut myself on if it meant getting her back.

Her head dipped low, hiding her eyes from me while I watched her every breath in the mirror while her body stiffened between me and the counter. “No, I’m not saying it. You don’t deserve it.” Her eyes were a darker