Page 19 of Meet Odin

Chapter 10

Idancedafewmore times with my husband and ignored everyone else in the room. I was enjoying my time with him. We didn’t know each other, but I had a feeling we’d be solid eventually. I dreamed that he would love me one day, but we weren’t there yet.

I was resting my head on his shoulder again, when I felt him shake with laughter. “Your mother has decided that it's time tp prepare you for the bedding. She’s getting irritated that I keep turning you every time she's close enough to get your attention.”

I was amused. “Why would you do that?”

“I don’t want to part with you.” He turned me again. “Your mother isn’t going to dictate my wedding night.”

I blushed and lowered my eyes so that they focused on his bowtie. I wasn’t sure how to handle statements like that. They had never been directed at me.

I did know that I was missing a pair of red lace panties.

“I'm not wearing red today,” I whispered to him.

He looked down at me in confusion.

“My red lace panties are missing.”

His face shifted at the realization that I knew. It was comical. His eyes opened wide, and he tried to adjust his poker face into one of innocence.

I left him on the dance floor. It was tradition in our culture for the honored, married, female guests to prepare the bride for her wedding night. My mother didn’t know that I wouldn’t need a sex talk. Kat had snuckPlayboysfrom our guards.

I didn’t get very far when Kat appeared at my side. She nodded toward the dance floor, where I had left my husband. He was still standing there, trying to appear innocent. We shared a look and then instantly cracked up laughing. We had to hold on to each other to remain standing; we were laughing so hard

When our giggles subsided, I noticed that Toula was heading our way. “They sent you, didn’t they?” Kat asked her sister.

“Yes,” she replied. “They’re ready for the bedding,” she told us with a grimace.

I didn’t know Toula very well, just as Katalina’s older sister. However, I noticed that marriage agreed with her. She seemed to have this new sense of peace, clearly hidden behind a poker face. I wondered if it came from knowing that your husband loved and adored you. Would I feel the same way eventually?

“Let’s get this over with,” I said. Wrapping Katalina’s arm in mine, we strolled out of the ballroom with Toula behind us.

My mother and Mrs. Petrakis were waiting for us in the honeymoon suite. They had placed flowers on the desk and sitting table. I happened to catch a glimpse of the bed, and there were petals scattered along the duvet cover. This was real.

“Let’s get you out of this dress. You’ll shower, and there’s a nightgown on the back of the door. Change into it.” My mother wasn’t messing around.

“Hang on,” Toula told me. “How many pins are in your hair?”

I thought that was a strange question to ask. “I don’t know. My hair’s pinned and sprayed to my head.”

“I thought so,” she responded. “Come here and sit. Kat, help me take her wedding hair down.”

My mother clapped her hands as if it was the best idea in the world. I wanted them all to leave quickly, so I didn’t fight.

“Your husband will want to run his hands through your hair. He can’t do that if it’s pinned, plus it will be uncomfortable,” Toula whispered to me.

“So, Ilya’s grabbing your hair. That’s good to know,” Kat chimed in.

“I swear! Sex is all you think about.”

“Men can think of sex all the time. Why can’t women?”

We both looked at Katalina. I loved her, but there were times when I just wanted to put a muzzle around her mouth. I am sure Toula felt the same way.

They made quick work of my hair and shoved me into the shower. I was just glad that they didn’t stay to supervise. When I was finished, I dressed in the nightgown that had been purchased for me. It was a silver negligee with spaghetti straps. I felt like a princess. I just had to get rid of the unwanted mice in the bedroom.

Before my mother could say anything, I cut her off at the pass. “I appreciate you being here, but I need a few minutes alone.”

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