Her eyes glanced around everyone in the wedding hall as her hands wouldn't stop trembling. "It's okay Mallory, everything is fine," she mumbled to herself in distress, the words she wanted to hear from her mother or Noah.

Everyone was having a good time, some were eating, some were gossiping and some even ditched the wedding to go have inappropriate fun in their car.

As she sat at the end of the hall, she looked toward Noah who was talking to someone on his phone which he had specified earlier as his business call. He had assured Mallory that he had taken several weeks off of his job so he could spend time with her, this was his last call at the moment.

"I would like to talk to you about something," Mallory's mother sat next to her. "It's about Noah and your marriage."

Mallory nodded and waved for her to speak. "Sure."

"Look, it's simple really. You have always been a disappointment to me, not having good grades, not being the weight everyone expects you to have, and then not having a good job either." Her words cut deep through her heart, tears springing into her eyes which she did not let fall. "So I want you to have a good relationship with Noah. Don't fight with him even if he does anything bad. Men are like that, they find other women and can't help it but women have to stay with them to maintain their reputation. As a woman, you have to take care of his needs and I'm not just talking about household work, sexual needs too."

Mallory stared at her mother, but not in surprise but in disappointment. As someone who was made to believe the vile lies, she knew somewhere in her heart that not every man would be the same.

"Don't deny him anything. If he asks for sex, do it, it's not for your pleasure anyway," she said in her indifferent tone and with a nonchalant shrug. "I hope I'm clear."

Her mother stood up and glanced back at her daughter. "Smile. Not everyone has to see you crying, Mal."

And she knew she wouldn't. She would never let anyone know about her family.

...

Mallory stood at the entrance of Noah's luxurious penthouse, her heart pounding in her chest. The grandeur of the place did little to ease her nerves. The soft lighting, elegant decor, and panoramic view of the city should have been comforting, but all she felt was an overwhelming sense of dread.

Entering inside his bedroom, she saw how the bedroom was decorated with beautiful scented roses and champagne. On either side of the bed, elegant nightstands held flickering candles, their flames casting a soft, mesmerizing light. A bouquet of fresh roses in a crystal vase sat on one of the nightstands, filling the room with their delicate fragrance. The scent of roses mingled with the subtle aroma of vanilla from the candles, creating an intoxicating and soothing atmosphere.

As someone who had never visited his apartment, she felt a little scared.

Noah closed the door behind them, his face lighting up with a gentle smile. "Welcome home, Mallory," he said softly.

Mallory tried to smile back, but her anxiety made it difficult. She glanced around the room, avoiding eye contact with Noah. Still in her wedding dress, the weight of the day and her fears pressed heavily on her. Noah, still in his suit, looked at her with concern as he noticed her unease.

"Mallory, is everything alright?" he asked, his voice filled with genuine worry.

She nodded quickly, but the trembling in her hands betrayed her. Noah took a step closer, his eyes searching hers for the truth. He assumed her fear stemmed from being in a new place, overwhelmed by the changes and the day's events not knowing what her mother had told her previously.

"You're scared," he said gently, not as a question but as a statement of fact. Mallory's breath hitched, and she looked down at her feet, unable to meet his gaze. She felt ashamed.

"Mallory, I need you to know something very important," Noah said softly. He squeezed her hands gently, grounding her in the moment. "I would never do anything to hurt you. Ever. I know this is all new and probably overwhelming, but I promise you, you have nothing to fear from me."

Her lower lip trembled, and a tear escaped down her cheek. Noah released one of her hands to gently wipe it away with his thumb. "You are my wife, and I love you. Your comfort and consent matter to me more than anything else. We will only do what you are comfortable with when you are ready."

Mallory's breath shuddered as she tried to absorb his words. The weight of her fears began to lift, just a little. Noah's sincerity was palpable, and she wanted to believe him, needed to believe him.

"I'm sorry, I-I know you won't touch me without my consent but I'm just a bit nervous," she stammered, stumbling over her words. "I hope it's not a bad thing."

Noah stared at her in disbelief, not understanding if she meant the fact that he would touch her without her consent or leaving her home.

He sighed and cupped her cheek. "Don't apologize about this ever Mallory. You mean a lot to me and like I promised, I will never hurt you."

Time had passed which felt like years but were actually months. From different hot days to cold, Mallory and Noah had promised each other to stay together, always.

And Noah had kept his promise. He indeed hadn't hurt her or ever done anything which would cause her any pain.

The door of the penthouse opened downstairs and she heard her husband speaking to the maid while she was busy painting in her art room.

"Hey baby," he greeted her softly as he entered inside, making her smile and leave her seat.

"Hey, I missed you a lot!" she exclaims, her voice filled with excitement as she jumps onto him and hugs him like a koala. He laughed and stumbled back a little from the force of her jump as he hugged her close.

"What did my baby do today?" he asked her as he put her down while she excitedly started discussing her day to which he listened very amusingly.

As Mallory was busy preparing some pasta while the maids were helping her, Noah walked into the kitchen and watched his wife moving around and giving orders.

While the maids left the couple alone, Noah sat down on one of the platforms, watching Mallory with a fond smile. He admired how at ease she seemed in the kitchen, despite the hardships she had endured.

"Can you believe it's been 7 months of us being married?" Noah asked, his voice filled with a mix of wonder and happiness.

Mallory turned to him, her face lighting up with a smile. "It's hard to believe, isn't it? Time has flown by so quickly."

Noah leaned back, taking in the sight of his wife. "I still remember our wedding night like it was yesterday. You were so nervous and now look at you. You're incredible, Mallory."

She blushed, her eyes dropping to the stove for a moment before she looked back at him. "You've been so patient and understanding, Noah. I don't know what I would have done without you."

Noah's expression turned serious, his eyes softening. "You don't have to thank me. I love you, and I'll always be here for you. No matter what."

Mallory passed him a genuine smile, her eyes lightening up quickly. "I love you as well."

Just then Noah's eyes turned mischievous as he smirked. "I remember the night we made love for the first time."

Noah and Mallory stood at the launch site in Cappadocia, Turkey, surrounded by dozens of vibrant hot air balloons inflating in the soft light of dawn. The sky began to blush with the first hints of sunrise, casting a magical glow over the unique rock formations and fairy chimneys that dotted the landscape. It was their honeymoon, and this hot air balloon ride was the highlight of their trip.

Mallory felt a mixture of excitement and nerves as she stepped into the basket, Noah's reassuring hand steadying her. The balloon's burner roared to life, and with a gentle lift, they began to ascend. The ground fell away, and the panoramic view of Cappadocia unfolded before them.

"Look at this," Noah whispered, wrapping his arm around Mallory's shoulders. "It's like something out of a dream."

They drifted over vineyards and orchards, the patchwork of greens and browns creating a beautiful tapestry below. The pilot expertly guided the balloon, bringing them closer to some of the more intricate rock formations. Mallory reached out, feeling as though she could almost touch the ancient stone.

"This is perfect," she said softly, leaning into Noah. "Thank you for bringing us here."

Noah smiled, kissing her forehead. "Anything for you, Mallory. I wanted our honeymoon to be unforgettable."

As the sun continued to rise, casting longer shadows and brighter highlights, they shared quiet moments of awe and connection. The balloon ride was both exhilarating and peaceful, offering a perspective of Cappadocia that was truly unique.

After about an hour, the pilot began to descend, aiming for a landing spot in an open field. The descent was smooth, and soon they were back on the ground, the experience leaving them both breathless and exhilarated.

Mallory stepped out of the basket, her heart full. "That was the most beautiful thing I've ever experienced."

Noah squeezed her hand, his eyes sparkling with shared joy. "I'm glad we could do this together. Here's to many more adventures."

...

His mouth met hers urgently as they entered their hotel room, quickly locking the door behind them and taking off their shoes. They didn't let each other go and kept making out while reaching the glamorous bedroom.

Noah placed her on the bed, hovering above her and pulling her ever closer. His mouth caressed her lips softly as she snaked her arms around his neck, their bodies losing the distance until they could feel each other's warmth.

He pulled away; his eyes softened with affection as he stared at his beauty. "How can someone be so pretty?" It may have been the alcohol talking but he knew what he felt for her.

A blush creeps up her cheeks like a delicate sunrise, a warm and unmistakable hue that betrays the fluttering of her heart. "Thank you, Noah. I love you."

He froze, letting himself relive what he had heard. Her body froze too as if they were connected. "I-I am sorry, I didn't know if-"

Her notions were stopped when his lips found hers again. He kissed her as if his life depended on it as if the stars were falling, as if the world was ending yet it was because he too loved her. "My heart beats for you, with a love that grows stronger each day. I love you so much, Mallory."

As their hands explored each other's bodies, Mallory let herself loose and happy.

Thrusting inside her at a brutal yet deep pace, she whimpered underneath him making him groan in pleasure. She hadn't yet known that her soft husband had been such a dirty man.

"Ah Noah, fuck, you're so good," she moaned, boosting his ego as he grinned and let his unrelenting tempo move her faster and close to her edge.

His dick reached places no one could touch; her broken strangled gasps moved him on as he pinned her arms above her.

A moment later, she shattered, her high-pitched noises let the neighbours know what was going on next door. Breathing heavily, he lay next to her and ran his fingers through her hair, warming her up even further.

"It was a beautiful day. I loved Cappadocia," Mallory said as she took a bite of the hot, creamy pasta while Noah seemed disappointed.

He sighed and looked at her annoyed. "That's the only thing you remember?"

Slurping her pasta, she looked up and asked, confused. "What?"

Noah clenched his jaw playfully and got up, catching her in his arms as she giggled loudly. "Oh, come here, I'll make sure you remember this for weeks."

"No! My pasta!" 

A/N

Thank you for reading. Oh and yes I didn't make this a series. A series would've been such a long task so I decided something short.

Hope you enjoyed! This was mostly fluff rather than smut so the mature content is less.

Vote and comment! I really appreciate it.

Anyways, see ya in Ember of Enmity soon!

xoxo

-lily