How to Tame My Beastly Husband — Chapter 3. You May Now Kiss the Groom
This chapter has been re-worked by Regan, we have picked up the novel from chapter 64
Annette was so nervous, she gulped, looking up at Raphael. Thinking of kissing him made her lips feel suddenly dry. But she did not want to live a passive life like her last one. She would do anything to make this life better. Even if it was a little crazy.
And because of her performance on the way down the aisle, the guests already thought she was infatuated with him. No one would blame her if the bride kissed the groom first. No, they would just laugh it off, and say that it looked as if their marriage was off to a good start.
Yes. Let’s just do it.
Raphael couldn’t be that offended by a quick peck on the lips. Emboldened by this thought, Annette looked up at Raphael, her pretty face tensed with determination. Raphael hesitated, frowning at the sight. She looked as if she were bracing for something, and whatever it was, her face was serious.
Annette grabbed his collar and yanked him down as hard as she could.
Their lips met. Her golden eyelashes trembled with suspense. Raphael’s blue eyes, which had never before been known to show any emotion, flew open in shock.
“……!”
Annette puckered her lips and squeezed her eyes shut. She didn’t have the courage to look him in the eye. She could feel the heat from his mouth, and Raphael would never have dreamed Annette would come at him like this. But she was kissing him. She was definitely kissing him.
You did it!
Annette’s whole body shuddered with anxiety. Quickly, she lifted her lips from his. Her heart was beating so fast, her vision blurred. Gasping, Annette looked up at his face.
Raphael was still looking down at her, emotionless, but she could see the shock in his eyes. The moment she saw those blue eyes, Annette plummeted back to earth and quickly withdrew her hands from his collar. Closing her eyes, she braced herself for his wrath. He was sure to be angry.
Raphael had always been a proud man with a fiery temper. He took offense quickly, and was implacable when offended.
Annette’s shoulders hunched automatically, and her eyes squeezed tighter shut. But at that moment, a large hand caught her chin and turned her face up. Before she knew it, that beautiful face was before her, his eyes burning down into hers as he moved closer.
“You can’t start as you wish and end as you will,” he whispered quietly.
Annette blinked. What the hell did that mean? But his handsome mouth curved in a mocking smile, a bitter cynicism that she knew all too well. His face was so cold, but his lips were so very red and sensual.
Turning her head to the proper angle, Raphael pressed those lips on hers. Annette trembled in surprise at the kiss. They had already completed the formal kiss for the ceremony, so she had no idea why he was doing this.
“…!!!”
His kiss felt like revenge. Annette reddened as his kiss went on, ignoring all the watching eyes completely. His hot tongue pressed her lips open and surged into her mouth. Roughly, it wandered inside her, velvety, tasting her thoroughly.
The feel of the tip of his tongue skimming her sensitive palate made chills run up and down her spine. Surprised, Annette reflexively tried to pull her body back, but Raphael’s other hand closed tight around her waist, pulling her closer.
As he said, there was no escape now.
Annette’s body bent helplessly backward as Raphael kissed her fiercely. His lips never left hers. His head turned and twisted, pursuing her persistently. He sucked and teased her tongue and lips at the same time, leaving her no room to breathe. The deep kiss made her dizzy, like she was going to be devoured alive by him.
“Ra, Raphael…..”
Frightened by the breathless kiss, Annette gasped and reached reflexively for his shoulders to push him away, then caught herself, controlling the impulse. She couldn’t reject him in front of all these people. He had enormous pride, and would be greatly hurt.
Fortunately, the guests knew nothing. Annette and Raphael looked like nothing but a couple in love, kissing each other with such passion. Watching this thorough demonstration of love, the guests glanced at each other sidelong.
“Oh, my God! Isn’t this supposed to be a political marriage? It doesn’t look like it, I’ve never seen such a romantic wedding in my life!”
“God, what a surprise! Is there really something between them?”
At least their reactions were favorable. Even though they blushed at the intense kiss between the bride and groom, they still applauded them. They had come hoping to dig up some gossip from this unexpected marriage, and been shown something even more incredible. That kiss at the altar was the only thing they would remember after they went home.
Annette was so dizzy from the kiss, she didn’t hear any of it. But Raphael, the most promising Lord General in the entire Kingdom of Deltium, was different. He smiled thinly as his sharp ears caught their whispers. If anyone had told him this was how his despicable marriage would go, he would have laughed. He was as surprised by this turn of events as anyone else.
I guess it’s not as loathsome as I expected.
Like Annette, Raphael was reluctant to marry. His only weakness was his low birth, and he had been forced to marry Annette Bavaria to compensate for it. Though she was known as a wicked woman, his father the King had given him no choice.
Raphael had expected the wedding to be terrible.
He was sick and tired of people gossiping about him, and Annette had been abominable, behaving like a martyr. She was a woman who should have been the Crown Princess, and then she had been married to the King’s bastard instead. She must be feeling like the world had ended.
It would have been terrible if she had showed that in front of the wedding guests. Raphael was determined to be patient, but that would have enraged him. But Annette had been smiling as if this marriage was the dearest wish of her heart. She was so good at managing her expression, he almost fell for it. For a moment, it had seemed like she really liked him.
What is this woman thinking?
But Raphael’s sharp eyes noticed that the brighter she smiled, the tighter she clutched her bouquet. Inside, he snickered. That was right. How could Annette Bavaria ever love a bastard like him? It was just an act she was putting on for everyone watching.
He was a little impressed at her boldness, though. He was satisfied at her cleverness, and disgusted by it. She was a cunning woman who had used every possible trick to become Crown Princess.
Raphael did not like her.
The moment she hesitated before the pastor, he had forcibly pulled her onward. So annoying! Was she really still clinging to her regrets for failing to become queen? It was good that she had the sense to cooperate, and he didn’t have to drag her before the pastor, but after that, he ignored her.
“Now, the groom may kiss the bride, and make his vows.”
When the pastor said those words, it jolted Raphael back to his senses. He had forgotten this last step of the ceremony.
Casually, he looked down at Annette’s face, revealed as he drew back her veil. She was a pretty woman with a face like a doll’s, and striking blonde hair. But he had no particular desire to kiss her.
No. He refused to kiss this snake-like Bavaria woman.
That was the moment when Annette grabbed his collar and kissed him.
The texture of rustling cloth tickled his face. A wonderful flowery scent intoxicated all his senses. As he felt her trembling lips press against his, Raphael stiffened.
Now…what…what are you doing?
It was a brief kiss. In the blink of an eye, Annette drew away, looking up at him with trembling eyes. She almost seemed to regret her impulse, and though she had been staring at him before, now she lowered her eyes.
The moment he saw that face, Raphael felt a strange tingling in his chest. He couldn’t let himself be swayed by a Bavarian woman.
So he counterattacked. He kissed her fiercely. He licked her soft lips, he swallowed them up, without leaving even a breath of her sweet scent. And he rapidly regretted that decision.
Kissing Annette was so damned good. The texture of her shy little tongue against his, tantalizingly soft. As he sucked on her tongue, he felt a trembling, surprised breath escape her lips.
It was very amusing to see her pretend to be innocent. But in the moment, she moved him. He had to get away from those lips, which tasted like honey.
“Ha…”
A silver thread shone and vanished between their lips. Annette’s face was bewildered, as if she were completely lost. She had always been so calm and quiet, and now she was frozen like a scared rabbit.
The sight of that face made him burst out laughing. Here was this woman he thought was evil to her core, but seeing her like this, it seemed she had a cute side. And her unexpected kiss had had a profound impact on his lower body, which hardly ever reacted with such enthusiasm.
Somehow, he was looking forward to his first night with her.
His laughter was close enough to tickle her forehead, and only then did her rosy pink eyes snap back into focus.
Ah.
Annette’s face turned crimson.
What did you do in front of so many guests?!
At least Raphael had not refused to kiss her.
Annette, blissfully unaware of Raphael’s expectations for the upcoming night, was very relieved.
She tried to calm down. Just thinking about that deep kiss made her face burn. But the more she tried, the hotter her face became, and when Raphael started laughing, she was so embarrassed, she couldn’t bear it. Annette gave up and hid her face in her bouquet.
Watching Annette like this, Raphael thought this desperate, bird-like fluttering was actually very cute. Like a rabbit running to its burrow. He had thought she was a quiet girl, a doll, but seeing her like this made him think she was a little different.
And when he saw her ears turning red through the gracefully arranged strands of her blonde hair, he couldn’t help laughing aloud. Hugging her shoulders, he laughed again loudly, pretending to be friendly. She had worked so hard at her performance, so he would hold up his end, so as not to disappoint all those mercenary, watching eyes.
The sight of his smile made her heart flutter, and Annette was so embarrassed, she couldn’t show her face. She walked behind him, letting him lead her out of the room.
The previously frosty atmosphere of the wedding had warmed considerably, after such a steamy kiss. Unlike her previous life, all the guests were praising them and offering toasts to the couple, agreeing that Annette and Raphael were a perfect match.
It was amazing how the same event could have such a different outcome.
And because of this, their reception passed much more amicably, and her second wedding ended far more pleasantly than the first. Her father was still displeased, but at least he did not criticize or blame Raphael out loud.
Everything had gone…really, really well.
However, one more important event remained.
The first night of the bride and groom.