Flash Marriage: Shre

***Completed***“Illmarryyouifyoupromisetokissmeeveryday.”Ontheharrowingdayshelostherfamily,outofallthemensheknew,Marcelladidntexpectthosewordsfrom“SweetBaby”Tony.Shethoughthewasnotinterestedinher.Shehadtoaskhimforthemarriageasshewantedtofulfilhersisterslastwishes.Shegotmarriedthedayshesufferedahorrifyingloss.DonDeAngelosyoungestdaughterbecamethewifeofAntonyCrawford.Shedidntwaittothinkwhyhewantedtomarryherwheneverymensheknewwantedherforwhoherfatherwas.Shetrustedhimthatmuch.Butinaday,shelearnedthatTonywasnotsodifferentfromothermen.Whatchoicecanshemake?Shecanthrowawaythemarriageandlosecustodyofhernephew,or...Shechosetobemarriedtohim.Theirmarriagecanbeadeal.Sheneededhim,heneededher.Itsallfine.Except...WhatdoesTonyfeel?Istheirmarriageallbutabusinesstransactionforhim?Whatisthesecretheishiding?Whycantherevealittoher?-----*Excerpt*“Weareeachourowndevil,andwemakethisworldourhell,”shesaidlookingintohiseyes.Thealluringmystiquebehindthoseblueeyesmadeherheartskipabeat.Howcanshehateandlovesomeonethismuch?Shemustbemissingapartofherbrain.Inthesilenceofthediningroom,thecandleflickered.Thecurveofhislipswidenedandintheromanticambiance,thethinlinesaroundhiseyesgaveherathrill.“QuotingOscarWilde?”hechuckledcomfortably,leaningforward.“Isntthattrueinourcase?”sheasked.Sheobservedhim,tryingtodigesteverysingleexpressiononhisface.Hewentsilent.Hislipspressedtoaline.Hispensiveeyesneverlefthersexceptforthefewsecondswhenheplaceddownhiscutleries.Shestillcouldntguesswhatgoesoninthatsmartbrainofhis.Itisthis,shethought.Iamadecentlyadventurousperson.Hesanadventure.Maybethatshisallure!“Then,Birdie,”hestoodupandwalkedtoher.Marcellasbackgotstiffasshetriedtofigureoutwhathewasgoingtodo.Also,isthatapetname?Birdie?Itsnice.Butthatcameoutofnowhere...Shefollowedhimwithhiseyes.Hekneeledbesideherandheldherhand.Onlywhenshefeltthewarmthofhisbighandonhersdidsherealizethatshehadbeenholdingherbreathforawhile.Thismanisgoingtobetheendofher.Itsuckswhenhedoesnotfeelevenhalfofwhatshefeels.“Letsbeangels,”hekissedherhand.Withasmoothsmilethatreachedhiseyes,helookedather.“Letsbeeachothersangels,andletsmakethisworldourheaven.”“Youare...”Unabletofindanywordstosaytohim,sheburiedherfaceinherhand.Herchestwasheavingasifsheranamarathon.Thismansurelyisgoingtobetheendofher.“What?”hechuckledwhileteasinghertoshowherface.“WhatamI?”“Youreabrute,Mr.Crawford.Thatswhatyouare,”shesaidtryingtoholdherstoicexpressiontorelayher“disapproval”ofhismethods.Butinfrontofhisgoofysmile,shelost.Shelost,andshedidntfeeldefeated.Shefeltdelightedinhispresence.“Markmywords,Birdie.IamtakingyoutotheWhiteHouse,”hesaid.Marcellaopenedhermouthtospeakbutnowordscameout.Thedeterminationshininginhiseyes...HesnottalkingaboutavisittotheWhiteHouse,ishe?Noway!Nof*ckingway!Hereyeswidened.Buthewassmilingsweetlyasalways.Hestoodupandleanedtoherear.“Letshavetodayskissonthebed,”hesaid.Beforeshecouldformaresistance,hepickedherupandwalkedupthestairs.Again,Marcellponderedtheonequestionshesbeenaskingalotlately.WhomdidImarry?