The Billion Dollar Girl

(Chapter 14)

Ͼ Ella Castillo Ͽ

We sat side by side in the car, in utter silence, perfectly not touching (did I sense a new tradition forming?), and it was driving me crazy. There was some sort of energy in the gap between our bodies, some sort of tangible electricity in the air.

What was Ash thinking about...?

I bit my lip, clutching the thick book to my chest. Lady Emily had given it to me, telling me to memorize all the thousand and one color schemes inside it, so she could test me tomorrow. I balled my hands into fists, hating her. She'd also told me to practice my walking, and to pick out "suitable" clothes for our lessons tomorrow.

"Gabriella? Are you okay?"

"Huh?" I said, brilliantly. I looked up at him, surprised he was suddenly so close. He was leaning in, his face so close to mine. A stray strand of hair hung over his blue eyes, like it always did. I almost wanted to lean in, and brush it away. I didn't, though. That would be stupid. "Uh...what?"

His light blue eyes were almost hypnotic, making it hard for me to concentrate. As he held my gaze, I almost stopped breathing. I could smell him again...the mix of spice, citrus, and raspberry...Was it his cologne?

"I asked if you were okay."

I couldn't help but stare at him lips as he talked. They looked so soft...What did they feel like, when they were against mine? I tried to absorb what he said. When I realized, my heart started thudding hard.

Did he actually care? He seemed so worried about me...

But the cynical side of me burst my bubble - no, of course he didn't. He was nothing but the idiotic, self-centered womanizer who'd bought me. This was probably some kind of crazy plan of his to...make me fall for him! Yeah, that's it! And I'm so not going to.

I glared at him, shoving him away abruptly, cutting off the moment short.

"I'll be fine," I said, roughly. "As long as you stay on your side of the car."

***

ῼ Ash Castillo ῼ

What the hell was wrong with her?

She stomped moodily into our apartment, dumping the book onto the sofa, heading straight for the bathroom. A couple moments later, I heard the unmistakable frothy scrubbing sounds of hand-washing. Cautiously, I went in, so I wouldn't surprise her - I had no idea why she was mad, but I didn't want to upset her more - I mean, we are technically married and we have to live together.

"What are you doing?" I asked, when I realized what she was doing. Ella dropped my bottle of cologne, blushing furiously.

"Uh...nothing..." she stuttered. I couldn't help but smirk. She was really cute.

"It looked like you were spraying my cologne."

"No...I, uh, wasn't...I just liked it..."

"Really?" I said, smirking, taking a few steps towards her. She retreated, banging into the mirror behind her. "Why do you like it?"

"I...uh...I..." she stuttered, her cheeks coloring a delicate shade of red. She looked up at me, real fear in her green eyes, completely frozen. Ella looked so small, so delicate in that moment. I leant down slowly, still maintaining eye contact with her, giving her the option to turn away whenever she wanted. She held perfectly still, apart from the rapid rise and fall of her chest.

I was only an inch away now. I could see every detail of her face...the splattering of freckles on her nose, her long eyelashes, her pink lips...Her eyes closed, like she was giving me permission...or maybe she was just scared.