we owned the night

[If he was being honest, he hadn’t spent a lot of time thinking about marriage. His mother had died very early on into his childhood, and he didn’t really remember a lot about her. So marriage wasn’t something that he spent a lot of time around as a kid. Naturally, it didn’t come in his mind very often. No, Duncan had been perfectly find with his bachelor life, and had expected to live it that way for as long as possible. So when his father had approached him with the family member’s offer, he had been taken aback, that was for sure. It had suddenly made marriage all that he could think about. How was he supposed to behave around this woman? Not only did he know nothing about marriage, but he knew nothing about her as well. It wasn’t as if they had a lot of time to get to know each other either. Not that it mattered apparently. It seemed as if his wife had already made up her mind about him.] And this side of the closet is mine. [Duncan couldn’t help but comment as he started hanging up his suits on the left side of the closet. He was fairly sure that they sounded like petulant five year olds who hated each other and were forced to share a room for the first time, but he couldn’t bring himself to care.] Now, as long as you don’t mind me crossing over to this side of the room to use the phone, I’m starving, so I’m going to order some pizza.

Maybe we should get the tape out so we don’t forget. [She couldn’t help but grin as she lay down on the bed, watching as he put his stuff away.] I suppose I’ll allow it just this once, but only because of pizza. Order some cheesy bread. [Cree knew she shouldn’t take any of her anger out Duncan. He was in the same position as her after all. She was certain he wouldn’t have chosen her to marry if he’d had the choice just like she wouldn’t have chosen him. He was gorgeous no doubt, but if she was being honest with herself she had hoped to marry someone that wasn’t from the mob. Not that she hated that life but she knew if she chose someone from inside of it that she would never quite have the full say in her own relationship. She didn’t want a man that was always under her father’s thumb, but now she had a man that was always under his own fathers. So really it was no different. A part of her hated her father for making this happen, but at the same time she understood why it was necessary. Their families had always been at each other’s throats and the union would make things a lot easier; especially when they brought children into it. Kids with a mix from both bloodlines would be their link. Her father had practically told her to come back pregnant after this honeymoon. Like that was going to happen. Cree stood up and looked out the double doors to the patio. They had private access to the beach and the view was amazing. At least they’d get to spend this time in a beautiful location.]

[Duncan was having a very hard time not losing his temper. Almost constantly from the moment that they had been put together all Cree had seemed to do was take her anger at the situation out on him, and it was starting to wear on his last nerves. It wasn’t as if he had wanted this either. In fact, he had been fairly sure that he was never going to be married. He wasn’t the best around women in romantic situations. In fact, his half brother would say that he was completely hopeless. Duncan had accepted that, so when his father came along informing him that he had arranged a marriage for him, he was shocked to say the least. He accepted it though, because he respected his father and knew that he would do what was best for the family. Besides, it wasn’t as if there was anything that he could do about it. He was just as bound to do what his father said as anyone else. He was sure that Cree’s situation was the same, and that she, a beautiful woman who probably had no trouble getting men, was more than a little disappointed in what she got stuck with. That didn’t mean her taking that anger out on him was okay.] My dad paid for this, and you know since we’re married, I think the one bedroom thing was kind of a given. [He couldn’t help but roll his eyes slightly.] But fine, I’ll take the couch, but that doesn’t mean I’m not leaving my stuff in here.

[Cree knew that taking her anger out on Duncan was unnecessary and that none of this was his fault but unfortunately for him he was her closest punching bag and she couldn’t help but take her irritation about the situation out on him. When Cree was a little girl she had dreamed of her wedding day, of the person she would someday marry. That dream had certainly never involved an arranged marriage to the son of her father’s rival. A part of her felt silly that a lot of her anger was over the fact that her childhood dream had been ruined when she’d had to say “I do” to the man standing in the room with her. What right did she really have to be so upset though? She did agree to the arrangement, though to her defense she’d felt that she’d had to. Her family was the most important thing to her and if this alliance was what was best for them then that was what she needed to do. The same went for Duncan she was sure and she told herself she should try to be a little nicer to him. She rolled her eyes, giving a small shake of her head at his words.] I don’t care where you sleep or where you put your stuff, but this side of the bed is mine. [She said as she set down on the right side of the bed and pulled her heels off, flexing her toes in the soft carpet.]