"Don't you feel special yet? You're the first woman to use my bathroom.

What does that tell you?" asked Matthew in reply

Erica curled her lips, sneering at his conceitedness and said,

“Special? Do you think I'm enjoying this? I was forced to get married to you and it's mot like I had any choice but to use your damned bathroom!"

“You were forced to marry me?" Matthew raised an eyebrow as if he was intrigued by her words

"Yes! You're the reason why my father forced me into this marriage

And, you know what? I don't smell bad at all. I shower every day and I never go to bed without putting on some fragrant body lotion." In fact, she was so particular about her Little before-bed-time ritual that she would run out of skin care products far quicker than most people

The two remained quiet for some time, lying back to one another on the bed. Just as Erica wondered whether Matthew had fallen asleep, he turned around and pressed his body against hers, taking her hands in his.

"Since you say that you're not smelly, let me check. Don't worry, you'll get to check me too."

Before she could refuse or even give consent, Matthew lowered his head and gave her a kiss on the lips

‘What?

Does he have no shame at all? He didn't even ask for my permission before kissing me!'

Erica groaned inwardly as she struggled to free herself.

Matthew noticed her discomfort and immediately let her go. He looked her in the eye and said, "Be serious." 'Be serious? He wants me to be serious, but he didn't even apologize for his behavior! What a joke!'

She bit her Lips and with an aggrieved expression on her face, said,

“Why did you kiss me so many times?”

“I just wanted to prove to you that I don't smell bad, contrary to your misunderstandings. Well, do I smell bad?" Matthew answered with a straight face.

‘Of course not! And you smell good, * Erica thought to herself. She wiggled and struggled to get free, stuttering, "N-no... Hey, how dare you use my body wash without my permission?!" Matthew was reeking of the fragrance of the body wash she always used.

“What? This is my wife's home and I used my wife's body wash. Is that not okay?"

Matthew asked.

"No. I mean...Matthew, can you get off me first? You are too heavy, I can't breathe." They were lying very close to each other and she was afraid that he would fail to restrain himself and force himself on her.

There was an awkward silence that filled the room for a while. Erica tried to hide from the discomforting moment by wrapping herself with the quilt, even though it was quite warm already

Matthew remained still in the dark. With a meaningful look in his eyes he said, "You have to get used to it. After all, this sort of thing will happen a lot in the future." She was as pure as a virgin in his eyes.

Matthew would have been correct to assume that if she didn't have a son called Ethan.

Erica was not a fool and she understood what Matthew meant without even a second thought.