Behind The Mask

Chapter 54

Anouk's POV

Things were moving really fast, once Michael got it into his head that we would be married by the end of the weekend. I was already quite familiar to the manner in which money makes everything possible. I have already witnessed a few instances since I've been around Michael. He got my passport and his ID bundled together in an envelope and a guy in a suit came into our hotel room to take them. He returned one hour later with the envelope and a wad of papers that represented the marriage license and some other legal papers that we need because I'm not a US citizen. I am pretty sure that regular people have to wait for months till they get all these papers...

Anyway, by lunch we had everything we needed to get married legally. I am asking myself why I'm so calm about this. God, I've agreed to get married and it's gonna happen tonight or tomorrow! Part of me knows that this will not change anything between Michael and I. Yet another part knows that we will be keeping this marriage secret to everyone and we're only doing it so that baby Jackson is born to legally married parents and no one can say that Michael fathered a child out of wedlock.

But, honestly, Manny's unfazed reaction is what keeps me calm. He doesn't see this ceremony as a big deal. He was at the top of excitement when I told him what it meant that I'm dating Michael. And then he just found it the most normal thing in the world to hang around his idol on a daily basis and be his best buddy. Like I said, nothing will change with the piece of paper that will turn me from Anouk Margritte Zuiders into Anouk Margritte Jackson.

"Hey, future Mrs. Jackson!"

Michael wraps his arms around me from behind and I lean into his thin but strong frame.

"Yes, future annoying husband. What's up?"

"Manny wants to see a movie. Wanna join us or get your beauty sleep done?"

"I'll join you, guys. I'm getting bored a bit."

"You won't be bored for long, baby. The justice of peace will be here tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. precisely and then we will have our wedding party. And then....we're gonna start our wedding night."

"Shouldn't we wait till it's actually night outside?"

"Not necessarily...I mean...we can pull all the curtains...and pretend it's night."

"I see...Well, let's go and watch that movie."

I made myself comfortable on the huge sofa. Michael sat me between his legs and Manny sat down on a cushion on the floor Indian style. Since he discovered large cushions, Manny has stopped sitting on chairs and sofas. He squats down and folds his lanky legs underneath himself and spends hours sitting like this and reading or watching TV. Right now, it is convenient to have Manny with his back to us and totally engrossed in an action movie.

Michael started the game innocently enough, placing his hand on my tummy. He does this at least a hundred times a day since I told him about my pregnancy. I didn't pay much attention to his stealthy moves, because I was actually getting caught up in that silly movie.

But there was no mistaking when he slid his hand all the way up under my T-shirt and cupped my breast.

"Sssshhhh, be quiet, baby girl. You're denying me so much till tomorrow...don't deny me everything."

His whispery voice in my ear stifled the surprised gasp I was about to release. My eyes made a beeline towards Manny, but he was blissfully caught up in a high speed car chase through a post-apocalyptic New York.

Michael grabbed a soft duvet with his free hand, while he continued torturing me with soft strokes and squeezes. My nipples were the size of cannonballs and I could feel a liquid seeping into my panties...