Theatre Royal, Drury Lane
Adam quickly snatched Ivy's arm, leading her away from the crowd. The majority of people were now leaving the theatre to wait for their carriages, the hum of chatter growing quieter as they gathered outside.
He stopped at an empty corridor that lead down toward the restrooms, dragging and then shoving her against the nearest wall, far out of sight of those left hanging around inside.
"What are you do-?" She managed to exclaim before Adam clasped his hand over her mouth; leering down at her, flattening his other hand against the wall beside her shoulder.
"I will let you off just this once," he rasped, slowly removing his hand, and sliding it down her chin to close around her throat instead, "but you must remember, that you are mine now, and I will not share my things."
Ivy's heart felt like it would start hammering its way through her rib cage as his fingers were tightening a little more around her neck; she could feel his warm, sweet breath on her skin. Her eyes darted to her left, and then to her right, quickly realising no one else was there before blinking coyly back up at him.
"Wh-what do you mean?" She stammered, the blatant tremble in her voice making him laugh through his nose. His eyes seared into her, his large hand still gripping her throat.
"What do I mean?" Adam chuckled disingenuously to himself, before his eyes turned cold and the smile faded from his face. He pressed himself against her as she straightened her back against the wall, lowering his head so the tip of his nose was grazing hers. "I mean, you belong to me now, Ivy. You are going to be my wife; therefore from now on, you will never speak to another man unless I am present, do you understand?"
Her heart drummed in her chest, sweat forming on her palms as she balled her fists, clenching them so hard her fingernails dug painfully into her palms. She willed herself to become so small he'd no longer see her, to shrink down and run far away. Her ongoing silence had clearly displeased him though, because he squeezed her neck just a little tighter, slowly crushing her windpipe. He let out a soft groan, becoming somewhat aroused as her glassy, panic riddled eyes and parted lips made his cock jerk down in his breeches. Ivy grabbed on to his arms, desperately clawing at them in a futile attempt to make him loosen his grip.
"I said," he muttered, speaking sternly like a father would to a badly behaved child, "do you understand me?" Ivy nodded her head furiously, pulling at his arms so he'd relent.
"Yes," she choked out, although barely audibly. He took his hand away seconds after, leaving Ivy gasping to catch her breath.
"Good girl." He brushed her cheek with the back of his hand, wiping away a frightened tear that had fallen with his fingertip, then gripped her chin with his thumb and forefinger, tilting her face up to him. "You're going to be trouble, aren't you?" A sinister gleam burned through his cool blue eyes as he gazed down at her. She silently shook her head, more tears threatening to escape.
"I won't," she pleaded, her head still shaking.
"No?" he purred into her ear. "Pity, because I enjoy punishing troublemakers, and I would very much enjoy punishing you." He bit down hard on her earlobe, but Ivy knew better by now than to make a sound; sucking in air through her gritted teeth instead to soothe the painful throbbing as his teeth sunk into the sensitive flesh; her body becoming rigid against his as he gripped her hip with his other hand.
"Mother and Father will be wondering where I am," she yelped. He stopped and lifted his head, releasing his grip on her chin to cup her cheek instead, stroking the soft skin roughly with his thumb.
"I wouldn't worry about them," he scoffed, his other hand finding a long lock of silky brown hair that dipped into her cleavage. "Your Father would've given you to me this very night if my Father had asked. In fact, I'm beginning to wish he had."
His lips touched hers, pillowy and pouting, parting them into an open mouthed kiss. A muted sigh escaped her throat; he could taste the faint tang of champagne on her tongue as he breathed harshly through his nose, his kiss becoming more demanding as his body ground into hers against the wall. Ivy pushed against his shoulders, but he grabbed hold of her wrists and pinned them above her head instead one swift motion, the dangerous urge stirring within him becoming more aggressive.
Another hushed moan from her was enough to send him mad with lust, but he internally argued with him himself to stop, he had to; eventually loosening his grip on Ivy's wrists before letting them go entirely. He cursed under his breath, exhaling loudly.
"You are right, I need to get you back out there before I lose control of my senses," he said, stepping back and holding out an arm to her, "Come."
They went out into the chilly night air which Ivy was thankful for, the biting breeze cooling her blazing skin. Adam delivered her back to her waiting Mother and Father, who were stood by the roadside outside the Theatre as their carriage rolled in behind the Cleaver's; chattering to Lord and Lady Cleaver who stood with them.
"Well I for one very much look forward to joining our two great families together, dear boy," Peter bellowed cheerfully, clasping Adam's hand in a firm hold as he shook it.
"As do I, Lord Pryor," Adam nodded with a smile, glancing over at Ivy who had gone to stand silently next to her Mother. "Our wedding day could not come soon enough." Lord Cleaver approached, patting his son on the back as he eyed his daughter in law to be for a moment before he turned back towards the men.
"I agree wholeheartedly," he said gruffly. "Let us speak first thing, I hold a lot of sway down at the church therefore we should have no trouble obtaining a special license. My boy wants to get a ring on this one before someone else snaps her up!" He chuckled, gesturing towards Ivy with his head as the men laughed together.
"Indeed," Peter said, "You should've seen our Morning room today, Robert. She rebuffed every single young gentleman who came to call on her. Now I see why, eh? She'd already bagged herself the cream of the crop with your boy here!" Adam caught Ivy's eye, grinning from ear to ear. He truly was revelling in this.
"I feel the same way, for the moment I laid eyes on your daughter, Lord Pryor, I instantly knew my search for a bride was over, for she is sheer perfection itself." He could've burst out laughing; charming Fathers was not usually his forte, but this was far too easy!
