Daddy’s wild girl

Chapter 47

The drive away from the familiar, wrought-iron gates of the campus felt like a crossing into a different world. Bella pressed her forehead against the cool glass of the car window, watching the streetlights blur into long, golden ribbons. The further they got from the dorms, the tighter the knot in her stomach became.

"Molly, this is crazy," Bella whispered, her voice barely audible over the thump of the music playing on the radio. "We actually left the campus. What if we get caught? What if something happens out here? I’m scared, Zee."

Molly, who was busy applying a final layer of lip gloss in the passenger seat, reached over and squeezed Bella’s hand. "Relax, Bella! Everyone is out tonight. The guards were practically sleeping at the gate. Besides, you need this. No books, no Alpha Daddy marks, no stress. Just one night of being a normal teenager at a massive party."

"Normal isn't exactly the word I’d use," Bella muttered as the car pulled up a long, winding driveway lined with towering oaks.

When the house finally came into view, Bella’s jaw practically hit the floor. It wasn't a house; it was a fortress of glass, steel, and stone, glowing like a diamond in the dark woods. Bass vibrated through the ground, a physical pulse that she could feel in her teeth. Luxury cars were parked haphazardly along the lawn, and the scent of expensive cologne and salt air filled the night.

"Welcome to the lions' den," Molly chirped, hopping out of the car.

As they stepped through the massive mahogany front doors, the heat of a hundred bodies and the scent of mixed drinks hit them. The foyer was grand, with a marble staircase that looked like it belonged in a palace. Bella felt tiny, her sparkly top suddenly feeling like armor that was far too thin.

"Hey, girls! You actually made it!"

Bella turned to see Britany weaving through the crowd, a wide, genuine smile on her face. she looked stunning in a silk slip dress, her eyes bright with the energy of the night.

"It is so crazy we actually left the campus to come all the way here," Molly said, laughing as she hugged Britany. "I can’t believe we’re at Ethan’s place."

Bella froze, her heart doing a violent somersault. "Ethan’s place?" she muttered, the words feeling like lead on her tongue.

"Oh, yeah," Britany said, leaning in to be heard over the DJ. "His parents are never here. This is his playground. Pretty impressive, right?"

Bella looked around the room with newfound terror. Every corner of this house smelled like him. The sleek, modern lines, the dark leather furniture, the sheer power radiating from the architecture—it was all Ethan. She felt like she had walked directly into his stomach.

Her eyes instinctively scanned the room, searching for the threat. She found him almost immediately. He was over at the far side of the massive open-plan living area, leaning against a sleek black marble bar. He was dressed in a simple black button-down with the sleeves rolled up, revealing the veins in his forearms as he held a crystal glass. He was talking to the bartender, his head tilted in that arrogant way he had, a faint, dark smile playing on his lips.

He looked up, as if sensing her gaze. For a split second, his green eyes locked onto hers across the sea of dancing bodies. He didn't wave. He didn't smirk. He just stared, his gaze heavy and possessive, before taking a slow sip of his drink.

"Come on, Bella! Stop staring and let’s dance!" Molly shouted, grabbing Bella’s arm.

"Wait, I—"

But Molly and Britany weren't listening. They were already moving toward the center of the room where the music was loudest. The DJ dropped a heavy house beat, and the crowd surged.

For the next twenty minutes, Bella tried to lose herself in the rhythm. She moved her body, trying to match the energy of Molly and Britany, but she felt like an outsider looking in. Molly and Britany were in their own world, holding onto each other, laughing and spinning as they shouted lyrics into the air. They were synchronized, a duo of pure joy, while Bella felt like a ghost haunting the dance floor.

Her mind kept drifting back to the bar. Every time a body moved in front of her, she expected to see him standing there. The air felt too thick, the lights too bright. She was dancing, but her soul was standing still, waiting for the inevitable.

Feeling suffocated, Bella started to back away from the center of the floor. "I’m going to get some air!" she shouted to Molly, but her friend was mid-spin and only gave a distracted nod.

Bella turned, trying to navigate the crowded room toward the balcony doors. She was weaving through a group of seniors when she lost her footing on the slick marble. She stumbled forward, her shoulder colliding with a solid, warm chest.

Strong hands immediately shot out, catching her by the elbows to steady her. The scent hit her before the voice did—pine, expensive tobacco, and something uniquely him.

She looked up, her breath hitching in her throat.

"You made it," Ethan said, his voice a low vibration that cut through the thunderous bass of the music.

He didn't let go of her arms. He stood there, looking down at her with an expression that was dangerously soft. The chaotic party seemed to vanish around them, leaving only the two of them in a bubble of golden light and shadow.

"I didn't have much of a choice," Bella managed to say, her voice trembling slightly. "Molly practically kidnapped me."

Ethan’s grip tightened just a fraction, his thumbs grazing the skin of her arms. "Is that right? And here I thought you came because you couldn't stay away from me."

Bella tried to summon her usual fire, but it was hard when he was looking at her like she was the only person in the room. "Don't flatter yourself, Ethan. I’m only here for the music."

"Liar," he whispered, leaning down so his lips were inches from her ear. "You're here because you want to finish what we started in the library."

He pulled back, his green eyes searching hers, intense and burning. "Welcome to my house, Bella. Try not to break anything... especially my heart."

He gave her a quick, devastating wink before sliding his hand down to catch hers, his fingers interlocking with hers as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Now," he said, pulling her toward a quieter corner of the room. "Let’s get you a drink that isn't watered down, and then you're going to tell me exactly why you’re wearing that top if you didn't want me to notice you."

Bella felt her face flush a deep crimson, but for the first time that night, the fear started to fade, replaced by a thrumming excitement she couldn't suppress. She was in the lion's den, and for some reason, she didn't want to leave.