Page 12 of The Sound in Silence

For a moment, it’s like she hasn’t heard me, but then she rises to her feet and shuffles past us and toward the back of the plane. She enters the small room and shuts the door without looking back.

Once she’s gone, Caladin swaps couches from beside me to the one she occupied, grinning. “Well, cuz, your life’s about to be interesting.”

“Interesting is one way to put it,” I murmur, still staring at the door.

“She’s barely looked at you since theI do’s.”

“Yeah,” I agree, recalling the ceremony. Through it, I couldn’t stop thinking about my bride. Wondering what her dreams were and how badly marrying me would shatter them. She looked away from the ring fast enough, which I hate to admit was a punch to the gut after I spent all week getting the perfect one custom made. The emeralds beside the classic diamond remind me of the dress she wore when we met.

“Still leaving tonight?”

“Shh. And yes.” I haven’t told Ariella yet because I’m uncertain if she’ll be pleased or not.

We won’t have a traditional wedding night, even if our kiss made me second-guess my decision on the matter. It was a kiss I expected to be stiff and cold, but instead, she kissed me back. I swear, something in her turned on because I saw a tiny light as I pulled away. As quick as it was there, though, it was snuffed out. In that second, I made her another silent vow.

To turn that light back on.

If she was so responsive over a kiss, what would she be like in my bed, on her back? No—riding me. Witnessing her take charge of our pleasure; the speed, the depth, the intensity. The image of Ariella bouncing on my cock, her wild hair free, bombards my mind. It’s only my cousin’s voice that keeps me present before I accidentally go begin our honeymoon in the plane’s tiny room.

“Well, I wish you luck on that. Who knows what the heads are gonna demand of you this time.”

“You may as well sit in on it too. Fly down with me.”

He groans again. “Or I could not, and not subject myself to spending more time with them than I have to. Better things to do than review paperwork.”

My brow arches. “Like continuing to fuck your way through New York?”

He shrugs. “You’re off the market now, so someone’s gotta take charge. Besides, you’re leaving your new wife all alone on her wedding night…” He trails off, his salacious grin earning his death—even if I know he’s only fucking with me.

My leg darts out and kicks his shin. Between the two of us, he’d win hand-to-hand simply because the guy spends half his life in a gym and the other half in an underground fighting ring. But my kick is sufficient to make my point.

It does based on his chuckle. “Already possessive over her? That didn’t take long.”

“Whatever,” I scoff. “It’s not possession when I already own her ass.” I lift my left hand, wiggling my ring finger with my point.

“Say that a bit louder, why don’t you. She might not have heard you.”

My gaze darts to the bedroom, wondering if she’s awake or not. Lying there and listening in on this conversation, or if she’s unable to hear us over the engine noise.

Caladin’s laughter fades when he catches where I’m looking. “Serious talk. You sure about this?”

“Too late now. Paper’s signed and everything. Ariella ensures a partnership with the Corsettis. Any attack now means we have our northern partners. You saw them today; she’s adored by the entire family. They’ll fiercely protect her, Della most of all, and Della has sway over Nico, so they’ll never back down from helping us if it means her potential safety. Contrary to my father’s beliefs, Ariella’s a wise move.”

A chess piece. That’s all she is to me.

Caladin nods slowly as I speak, digesting everything. “Hm, yeah, I agree. What’s her story though? The mutism thing is a bit…interesting.”

“None of your business.” The last thing I plan on doing is discussing her traumas with him, especially while she’s within earshot.

Caladin only chuckles again and glances out the window to his right. “Whatever, cuz. You do you.”

* * *

When the plane lands under two hours later, I stand to retrieve Ariella from the back. The door hasn’t opened the entire flight, and I assume she’s fallen asleep.

Caladin walks the opposite way. “I’ll ensure her bags get unloaded and will meet you in the car.”

Inside the small bedroom, I find her curled up on her side, the blanket pulled over her entire body.

---