A couple of days later, I hear that David’s left my mum. I can easily imagine what’s happened. I know from Amber that they had an explosive row, that she doesn’t know what it was over, and that Mum left the house and is now staying with her and Porter for a few days.
Today is the first day I’ve noticed a little bump. It’s tiny, but it’s solid and it’s there. Richard noticed it this morning, too, and it got him highly aroused. Apparently, it’s been his dream to see me pregnant with his baby. I know he hasn’t forgiven me for the abortion I had all those years ago. I wasn’t ready then, and I’m certainly not ready now. The situation back then was more complicated. At that time, I didn’t know I wasn’t his biological daughter. I’d had that abortion because I believed the baby was a result of incest and inherently vulnerable to the birth defects which often accompany such a beginning. I didn’t overhear my parents talking about their separation and Richard’s agreement to adopt me until it was too late. My guilt still haunts me to this day.
A part of me still thinks about escape. I know that if I run far and long enough, I will eventually break this spell he has me under right now. I just can’t seem to help myself. I’m drawn to him. He’s a master manipulator who keeps me dangling on an ever-so-tight string. What pisses me off about him the most is that he wants it all. He wants the normal family—specifically Amber—but he also wants me, his dirty little secret who is supposed to be his daughter, but is also pregnant with his baby. I keep asking how on earth he thinks he can keep a lid on us, but every time, he shuts me down. I’ve said many times now that one day he will have to make a choice. He doesn’t like that … not one bit.
And if I thought things couldn’t get any crazier, I was wrong. Apparently, they can.
“Put this on,” Richard says, throwing me a beautiful long, white, satin dress with a V neckline that looks as if it would rest delicately on my breasts.
I haven’t the faintest idea at first as to what’s happening. Pregnancy must burn some brain cells because I look at him confused as fuck. “What for? Where are you taking me?”
I watch as Richard puts on a white shirt, tucking it into his grey trouser suit before grabbing a beautiful grey silk tie. Despite the fact that he’s obviously dressing up to the nines for something, it still doesn’t sink in.
He briefly glances my way as he does his tie up in the mirror. His eyes fall down to the dress before looking back up to me. “Put the dress on, Scarlet. We only have ten minutes to get ready.”
Almost folding my arms like a child, I say, “Get ready for what, Dad?” I ask, emphasising the name.
“We’re getting married.” I burst out laughing, causing him to turn around and face me. “What’s so funny?” he asks me this like I’m the one being ludicrous.
“You’re absolutely fucking certifiable, do you know that?”
He shrugs, looking angry. “Why?”
As I take a seat on the bed, I say, “I’m not marrying you. No way in Hell. Besides, it’s illegal to marry your own daughter, you sick fuck.”
Storming across to my bed, he grabs my arm, hoisting me up before glaring into my eyes. “You will do what the fuck I say.” He points to my stomach. “I’m not having my son born a bastard. You’re already starting to show. It’s now or never.”
“But we already have the same name. What the fuck, Dad? There’s just no way …”
“It’s already sorted. I applied for a licence ages ago, and it came through yesterday. We can get married, and we will be in an hour’s time. I have two witnesses lined up and ready to meet us. Get dressed and meet me downstairs in ten minutes.” He lets go of my arm and starts walking out of the room. “And if you’re not dressed and ready in ten minutes, I will come and find you. It won’t be pretty.”
He walks out, leaving me absolutely stunned into silence. He’s still keeping the fact that I’m not his daughter a secret from me even now.
Married?
Is he for real?
Fuck.
I know for a fact he is for real, but it still doesn’t stop the shock from coursing through me. It’s actually all rather comical. After everything he’s done in the past and still keeps doing, he’s more concerned about his son being born a bastard? That shit’s old school.
Acting on autopilot, I get dressed, noticing afterwards how beautiful it actually does look on me. It accentuates my hips, but also the little protrusion in my belly area. It’s going to look pretty obvious to everyone why we’re getting married.
I start to laugh out loud. How the fuck can I marry that bastard? I hate him. If he’s honest, I suspect the feeling’s mutual.
“Scarlet,” Richard shouts from downstairs, “you have thirty seconds until I come up.”
Sighing, I puff my hair up a little before making my way to the stairs. As I appear, Richard is about to come up. Once he spots me, he stops, and I chastise myself when the look he gives me forms tingles throughout my body. His stare—like always—is intense. The whole way down, he can’t seem to keep his eyes off of me. When I reach the last step, he comes closer to me and kisses me on the lips. “You look beautiful. I could fuck you right here.” He then grabs my hand, leading me out towards the front door where a huge limousine is waiting. “I know it’s not going to be a full church wedding. That can come later. But I still wanted to make this day special for you.” I start laughing at the absurdity of the situation, earning me an unamused look from him.
My face falls. “You’re deadly serious about this, aren’t you?”
His shoulders sag with a frustrated sigh. “I don’t fuck around about something as serious as marriage, Scarlet. I married your mother, which I now realise was wrong, but I’m more certain about this marriage than I’ve ever been. You’re having my baby. Why wouldn’t we get married?”
“Because of all the things I mentioned upstairs. Besides, what are you going to tell my mother and Amber? Are you even giving me a ring?” I don’t know why out of all the questions I could have asked, wondering whether I have a ring was one of them.
“I have rings, but the only time you can take yours off is when we visit your mother or sister, got it? The rest of the time, it stays put.” He grabs my left hand. “Every fucker needs to know you’re mine.”
Pulling my hand from his, I hiss at him, “Everyone but my mother and your precious daughter, Amber, huh? She can’t possibly know what kind of person you really are. Can she, Daddy?”
Getting up in my face, he grabs both my wrists and stares into my eyes. “Don’t pull the victim card on me now, Scarlet. I will work things out in my own time.”
“You’re treating me like your dirty little secret.” I don’t much care that he is, but he has to realise that is what it looks like.
“That’s because you are my dirty little secret. My dirty little whore.” His lips are almost touching mine when he says this. He looks down at my lips before meeting my eyes again, his breathing laboured.
“You always say the sweetest things.”
Squeezing my wrist, he says, “Get in the fucking car.”
“Yes, Dad,” I mutter under my breath before he practically drags me to the passenger door.
The ride to the town hall is short, but luxurious. Once parked, the driver emerges and opens the passenger door to let us out. We’re immediately greeted by a man I recognise from my dad’s forty-fifth birthday party. I remember his name is Bill. I also remember my dad introducing me as his daughter. He’s standing there with a big shit-eating grin and a hand out ready to shake my father’s. Standing next to him is a woman of the same age, who I can only assume is his wife.
“Richard, old bean. How the devil are you?” He shakes his hand and leans in to nudge him with a wink. “Like to think of yourself as Woody Allen, huh?” He nudges him again, and I almost roll my eyes.
Richard laughs falsely at this. I can tell he’s not amused by what he’s just said—even though it’s partly true. “What can I say? We fell in love. I know we shouldn’t have, but now she’s pregnant with my baby, and I need to make things right by her.” Smiling, he grabs me and throws an arm around my shoulder in a protective hug.
“Congratulations. Was it planned?”
Annoyed by his intrusive questioning, Richard answers, “Yes. I just didn’t think it would happen on the first try.”
Bill slaps my father on the back. “Good job, man. You must have strong ones.”
The show of male appreciation is vomit-inducing. I almost want to ask if they want to compare penis sizes, but I hold my tongue.
Richard squeezes me to him. “Maybe we were just always meant to be.” He looks into my eyes adoringly. One would never think by looking at his show of affection that there was a hidden beast beneath the surface.
“How rude of me. Let me introduce you to my wife, Laura. She loves a good wedding, don’t you, dear?”
“I do,” she says, stepping forward and offering her hand. When Richard kisses the back of it, I notice the heat rise to her cheeks. She’s immediately taken by him. Despite what I feel for him negatively speaking, I’m not immune to the lure he has to the female species. I, for one, can account for its existence.
“Oh my,” she says, losing herself a little.
“Let me introduce you to my soon-to-be wife, Scarlet.”
He motions Laura in my direction, and she offers me a dazzling smile. “Wow, you’re simply stunning. What a beautiful couple you make. How long have you known each other?”
She’s obviously oblivious to our relationship. Equally obvious is the fact that she didn’t hear a word that was said.
“She’s partially deaf,” Bill mouths, explaining why she never heard anything.
I lean forward, smiling, and whisper, “When I was a teenager, my father used to play peek-a-boo up my nightie.”
Laura frowns. “What was that, dear?”
“I said I met him in the late nineties,” I shout.
“Wow,” she answers, looking me up and down. “You must have been a baby.”
I laugh. “You don’t know the half of it.”
“What was that?” she asks, leaning forward.
“I said: It feels like it.”
“That’s enough,” Richard says, grabbing my elbow and squeezing. He looks at everyone afterwards and says, “Shall we?”
Bill slaps Richard’s back again. “Eager to get a ring on her finger, eh? I would be, too, if I had a lady like that in my life.” Richard scowls back at him, but Bill doesn’t notice. “You should write a book about your relationship. That shit sells like hotcakes. Anything risqué and taboo does. You’d make a killing, Richard.” He nudges him as we walk up the stairs. “Come see me about it in my office next week, old boy.”
Once we walk in, my father gives our names to the reception lady where she tells us to go up the stairs to room thirty. The whole time I’m walking up to this room, all I can think about is why on earth I’m going through with it. I must be crazy, but I’m doing it anyway.
We find room thirty and are instructed to make our way through where the ceremony can begin straight away. A woman who looks to be in her fifties and is dressed like a schoolmarm is the one who marries us. I go through the motions, saying the right things when prompted, having no clue why the hell I’m doing any of it. It’s only when Richard puts a ring on my finger and is told he can kiss the bride that it all becomes a bit too overwhelming. Feeling woozy, I stumble, almost falling until Richard catches me. I can hear everyone fussing around me, but I can’t hear what’s being said at first.
“She’s pregnant,” I eventually hear Richard say.
“I’ll get her some water,” I hear the schoolmarm reply before she rushes off.
“Scarlet,” Richard prompts. “Are you okay, sweetheart? Scarlet?”
Sweetheart? Since when has he called me sweetheart?
“I’m fine.” I’m a little woozy still, but I’m coming around with every passing minute. “Has the shotgun wedding finished?”
I hear Richard laugh. “She likes to joke,” he explains to everyone.
“Here’s the water,” says the schoolmarm who just married me to my father. She hands me a plastic clear cup, and I say my thanks, tipping the water down my throat and closing my eyes at the cool sensation. It’s a welcome feeling.
“Here,” Laura pipes, handing me a Wispa bar. “This will bring your sugar levels up.”
“Thanks.” I accept the bar from her, open it, and take a bite.
“How’s that, baby?” my father coos.
I offer him a strange look before realising I need to be acting here. I smile. “A lot better, thanks.”
“Can you stand?” I nod and he helps me up. I thought I would feel dizzy again, so I’m surprised when nothing comes.
“I’m a lot better,” I say, making everyone smile.
“The colour is returning to your cheeks,” Laura says, laying a tender hand on my shoulder.
“We need to sign the papers, and then I’ll get you home for some rest, okay?”
Bill starts laughing. “I know what rest is code for.”
Laura nudges Bill, tutting. “Bill, the poor girl’s just fainted, and you’re talking about sex.”
“Are you ready to sign the papers?” A young girl appears from nowhere with a pen in her hand.
“We are,” Richard says, quickly ushering me towards a desk. He takes the pen off the girl immediately and starts signing. Straight after, he shoves the pen in my direction and gives me a warning look. I take the pen from him with a sigh and sign where the lady tells me. Pictures are taken, and the lady smiles, offering her congratulations.
“Thank you for coming,” Richard says to Bill and Laura.
“Anything for you, old boy. Congratulations to you both.”
Bill beams at Richard as he pulls me under his possessive arm. All I do is smile. At the moment, that’s all I can muster.
What the fuck’s just happened?
After shaking hands and hugs all round, I’m pushed towards the waiting limousine, and Richard soon barks at the driver to give us privacy. Once he has the screen up, Richard turns to me and starts pushing my dress up.
“What are you doing?”
“What does it look like I’m doing?” Richard asks, running both hands up my thighs. “We have to consummate our marriage.”
“Are you that impatient that you can’t wait until we’re home?”
Grabbing my neck, he starts to nibble along my jawline. “I have been waiting too fucking long for this moment, Scarlet. Once I fuck you, that’s it. You’re all mine. Every. Single. Inch. Of. You.”
I try my hardest to hold back how good it feels, but my body betrays me. A breathless moan leaves my mouth, and it somehow acts as a catapult to Richard. Before I know what’s going on, Richard’s in between my legs, undoing his trousers.
As soon as his cock is free, he pushes forward, slamming himself into me so hard that I cry out. “That’s it. Take me. Take every fucking inch of me. Your pussy belongs to me,” he shouts, slamming into me hard over and over again. “You were made for me, Scarlet. Do you hear me? You were made just for me. Fuck!” he screams, his hips thrusting faster and harder. After what he’s made me do today, I don’t want to feel anything. I’m willing my body to shut down, but with every hard thrust, I start to come apart. I can feel my orgasm coming, and I know it’s going to hit hard.
But then, suddenly, just as I’m getting there, Richard slams one last time inside me, roaring out his release as he comes.
He stays in between my legs, his breathing heavy against the base of my neck. Once a little calmer, he pulls himself up a little, looks into my eyes, and kisses me. “Mine forever and ever now. Just remember, you did this today because, like me, you can’t help yourself. You’re fucking addicted to me—just as I am to you. I will never let you go again.” He kisses me tenderly again before lowering himself out of me. He takes position, his head in between my legs. “We’re officially married now, and considering I finished before you, I will make sure you’re taken care of. You are my wife after all.”
Sick fucker.
Those thoughts quickly leave my head as Richard goes down on me, soon pulling that lost orgasm to the surface again. Like a woman possessed, I ride his face until I scream his name. Then, he’s back inside of me. Taking me, possessing me, and owning me like he always does.
This time, however, we come together in an earth-shattering climax.