Chapter 5

JAN left her to the master’s bedroom after unpacking his luggage. He got an important call from she did not know who. Kate did not bother to ask. She knew she had no right to stick her nose on his affairs, especially when their marriage was nothing but on papers. But then, Jan demanded that they consummate it so his mother would not suspect. Was she ready for that? Kate did not know.

She heaved a sigh and started unpacking her luggage. Kate could not help but grimace as she took the clothes out of the suitcase one by one. She did not own a single thing inside that suitcase, so she did not know if she could really call them her own.

“Jan bought all of these. We’re married,” she told herself for consolation.

With her clothes in her hands, Kate sauntered to the walk-in closet.

Jan told her that she could use half of it. But now that she saw it, she doubted she could use the half because his clothes took up almost three-fourths of the entire closet. Well, she did not have too much as of now. Perhaps later when she has her own money to buy whatever she would want.

But would it ever happen? Will Jan let her work? Maybe if she asks him, he will allow her.

Kate was almost done organizing the closet when she heard a knock on the door. She left the walk-in closet and opened it. One of the housekeepers greeted her.

“Madam, the dinner is served, and Sir Jan is asking for your presence,” the housekeeper told her and left immediately.

“Right, dinner…” Kate shut the bedroom door and changed her clothes.

It was their first dinner as husband and wife. There was nothing special about it because of the arrangement that she and Jan had, but she still wanted to look pretty. It had been years since Kate last dressed in fine clothes, and she must admit that she kinda missed it. All thanks to Jan.

Kate could only imagine how terrible her life would be if she did not escape her aunt’s claws. She must be crying by now in that old businessman’s bed, helpless.

When she arrived at the dining hall, she saw Jan and Nana Talia at the table. She smiled immediately, knowing that she would not be alone with her husband, who seemed more like Dracula at that moment. She wondered what made him look like that after only a few couples of minutes talking over the phone.

Jan rose from his seat and pulled the chair across from her nanny. He did not speak a word and just gestured to the chair.

She strode towards the chair and sat there.

“I’m glad you will be joining us for dinner, Nana.”

Her nanny smiled shyly.

“Kate is an orphan,” said Jan. “You’re the only person closest to her now, almost like a family. So, don’t be shy. I brought you here so that she won’t feel alone.”

She could not believe what she had just heard from him. Did Jan really say that? How considerate of him to think that way about her. Maybe behind his cold exterior was a gentle side of him he did not always show to anyone.

“Oh, thank you, Sir Jan,” said Nana Talia.

“You can call me Jan,” he said as he filled his glass with wine.

Her nanny turned to her with a warm smile on her lips. “Oh, darling… where did you find such a sweet and loving husband?”

Kate bit her lip when Jan’s gaze reverted to her. Of course, she could not tell her nanny the real deal, not in front of him. She did not want to keep it a secret to Nana Talia for a long time. She ought to know because she was the one who raised her, and she needed someone she could turn to when things got rough.

She cleared her throat and turned to Nana Talia.

“I’m blessed, didn’t I, N-nana?”

“Hmm… of course, you are. Your parents must be happy up there to see that you are in good hands now,” her nanny said with her eyes glistening with tears. “Oh, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be crying in the middle of dinner.” Nana Talia pulled out a handkerchief from her cardigan’s pocket and wiped her tears.

“Shall we eat now? The foods are about to get cold,” Jan said afterwards.

“Oh, yes… let’s eat.”

She was about to get the bowl of rice when Jan got it first. She gave way, but she did not expect that he would fill her plate with rice first. It was a simple gesture, yet it made her heart flutter.

KATE excused herself right after dinner and returned to the master’s bedroom to finish what she had left there. It did not take long, but her exhaustion from the years of labor in her aunt’s house seemed to get back on her now. Since Jan has not come to the bedroom yet, she decided to give herself a warm bath in the tub.

The warm water felt good, and the aroma of those scented candles that she lighted seemed to calm her mind. It made her feel just like the good old days when she had nothing to worry about. Kate closed her eyes when she was suddenly reminded of her loving family. Her parents cherished her so much, and her brother protected her all the time. She missed that, and it pained her that they would never come back no matter how much she wished for it.

She dipped her whole body on the tub when she felt her eyes sting. Kate did not want to cry, so she thought the water could prevent it from happening. But it only took her a few minutes under the water when strong hands suddenly took her out of the tub.

“Katherine!”

She opened her eyes and was shocked when Jan’s handsome yet worried face greeted her. And then, the realization hit her that she was naked as he carried her in his arms.

“J-Jan… I’m… n-naked.” Kate suddenly felt her cheeks—ah, no—her whole body burned.

But he acted unbothered by what she said.

“Are you alright?”

Jan carried her out of the bathroom and took her to the walk-in closet. He put her down and donned her with a robe.

“What happened to you? Are you drunk or something—”

“No,” Kate said, cutting him off. “I’m fine, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

“How can I not worry when I saw you were sinking on the bathtub?!” he snapped.

She stepped backward when she heard how his voice roared inside the room. It was the first time she saw him that furious. Jan did not react that way after that video scandal incident. What has gotten into him now?

“It’s not an accident. I dipped myself into the water,” she explained. “I’m sorry if I startled—”

Kate’s words were cut off when Jan suddenly pulled her for a kiss. It was too sudden; she did not have enough time to prepare. Her legs immediately turned into jelly; she had to cling her arms to his neck for support. And as his kiss deepened, the invisible fire down her pit made her blood boil. It was consuming her…

She was not even sure if it was right to feel that way towards Jan when she did not know anything about him. Was she too weak emotionally, or was it how the human body works? Either of the two, Kate did not know. One thing is for sure… she must surrender herself to him. Jan was her husband. They made a pact. The marriage must be consummated whether she loves him or not.

Jan carried her again without breaking the kiss and put her to bed. While his lips and tongue were busy assaulting her, his hand pulled the tie of her robe. Kate gasped when she felt his warm hand caressing her inner thighs and occasionally pressing them in a gentle manner. She knew it was not the real deal yet, but what Jan was doing to her started to make her feel crazy… mad… and needy. There was this strong that need she felt inside her.

“Jan…” Kate drawled when his lips went from her jaw down to her neck.

She let out a soft moan when he started nibbling the flesh of her neck. It was ticklish yet fiery. Then, his hand parted her legs and palmed her sex. Kate felt her body shiver out of anticipation and nervousness. It was her first time, and they said it would hurt even more when she was not ready enough.

“J-Jan… I’m…” Her voice trailed off.

He raised his head and looked at her in the eyes.

“Hush… I know. I’ll be gentle.”

Kate shut her eyes and bit her lower lip when she felt his fingers part her folds. Jan started gently rubbing her nub in a circular motion, building more sensation on her toes, making them curl.

“Have you ever touched yourself, Katherine?” Jan whispered to her ear.

“N-no…”

“You’ve missed a lot. Let me pleasure you then.”

His finger moved faster than before, and his mouth sucked on a nipple, intensifying the sensations. Now Kate did not know what to do. Her body would go stiff, and then her back would arc afterwards.

“Don’t fight it, Katherine… let it go,” Jan drawled.

Kate did what she was told, and soon she reached her climax. Her body was still shaking when Jan distanced himself from her and left the bed.

“Where are you going?” she sat up despite feeling wanton from the sheer pleasure.

Jan did not respond and strode toward the bedside table. He opened the drawer and got a cigarette that he immediately put between his lips. He just looked at her with lazy eyes and went out of the bedroom.

Kate’s mouth dropped open. That was it? She was not dumb not to know nothing really happened but mere foreplay. Jan left her hanging.