Daddy’s wild girl

Chapter 46

The afternoon sun beat down on the academy’s courtyard, casting long, jagged shadows across the stone walkways as Ethan hauled Bella through the double doors. He didn't slow his pace, his fingers like iron bands around her wrist. Students scattered out of their way, whispering behind their hands, their eyes wide as they watched the King of the school lead his "girlfriend" into the light.

"Ethan, let go of me! Everyone is staring!" Bella hissed, her boots skidding on the gravel as she tried to plant her feet.

He didn't answer. He didn't even look at her. He just kept walking until they reached a secluded alcove behind the old library, a spot hidden from the main thoroughfare by thick, overgrown ivy.

The moment they were in the shadows, Bella gathered every ounce of strength she had and jerked her hand away. The sudden movement made Ethan stumble slightly. He stopped, a deep frown settling on his face as he rolled his eyes, shoving his hands into his leather jacket pockets.

Bella didn't wait for a lecture. She turned on her heel, ready to bolt back to the safety of the crowd, but Ethan was faster. Before she could take two steps, he lunged forward, his hand slamming against the stone wall next to her head. The momentum carried him forward until he had her pinned, his body a solid, warm barrier that trapped her against the cold masonry.

"What are you doing, Ethan? Are you crazy?" Bella uttered, her voice trembling with a mix of shock and a sudden, sharp spike of adrenaline.

Ethan leaned in, his face inches from hers. "You didn't think I was crazy when you kissed me this morning, did you?" he uttered, his voice dropping to a low, dangerous velvet.

Bella gulped, the air in her lungs feeling suddenly thin. She had spent the last three hours trying to scrub that memory from her brain—trying to pretend that her lips didn't still tingle and that her heart hadn't felt like it was going to burst. She regretted it. She regretted giving him that power, giving him a reason to think he finally had her.

"Why did you kiss me, Bella?" Ethan asked, his gaze drifting down to her mouth before snapping back to her eyes. He pressed his body closer to hers, his chest brushing against hers, making her feel a wave of heat that had nothing to do with the sun.

"You... you kissed me back," Bella pointed out, her voice barely a whisper.

"Well, yeah. Why wouldn't I?" Ethan said, a slow, arrogant smirk spreading across his face. "You're mine, aren't you?"

Bella rolled her eyes, finding a spark of her usual fire. "I am not yours. I don't know why I did that—it was a lapse in judgment. But you shouldn't have kissed back... you should have—"

Ethan cut her off with a sharp, dry laugh. "Believe me, I was shocked when you did it. I thought you hated my guts, Bella. I really did." He gave a little eye smile, a rare, genuine expression that softened the harsh lines of his face.

For a second, Bella’s heart skipped a beat. She had spent so much time fighting him that she had never really stopped to notice how devastatingly good-looking he was when he wasn't trying to be a villain. His green eyes were like forest glass, staring at her with an intensity that made her feel like she was melting from the inside out. Their lips were so close they were practically sharing the same breath.

She forced herself to look away, the spell breaking. "Stay away from me," she said, putting her hands on his chest and shoving him back. "Kissing you was a mistake, okay? It was a moment of weakness. Let’s just forget it ever happened."

"Really? Is it that easy for you?" Ethan asked, his voice tensing.

Bella scoffed, folding her arms over her chest defensively. "Yes! It must be easy for you, right? I mean, you kiss a lot of girls like it’s nothing. You probably don't even remember half their names."

Ethan’s eyes darkened, a sneer curling his lip. "Are you jealous, Bella?"

"I am not jealous of a man everyone has had a piece of," she snapped back.

Ethan stepped forward again, his shadow looming over her. "Don't worry, love. I'm just yours."

"Oh, come on!" Bella cried, trying to step back, but her heel hit the base of the wall.

"Think about it," Ethan said, his voice smooth and persuasive. "We could actually have a good run together. We look good together, don't we? The King and the girl who isn't afraid to hit him."

Bella let out a huff of disbelief and turned to walk away, desperate to end the conversation. But as she pivoted, her foot caught on a discarded banana peel near a trash bin. Her balance vanished. She stumbled backward, her arms flailing as gravity took hold.

Before she could hit the ground, Ethan’s arm shot out. He caught her by the waist, his other hand gripping her shoulder as he hauled her back up. To steady herself, Bella’s hands instinctively flew to his chest, clutching the lapels of his jacket.

They froze. The world went silent. Bella found herself staring into his eyes again, her breath hitching as the proximity sent a fresh wave of electricity through her. Neither of them dared to break the contact.

"Thanks," Bella muttered, her voice small, her eyes still locked on his.

She wanted to pull away—she knew she should—but Ethan didn't let her. He pulled her even closer, his grip tightening. Before she could utter a single word of protest, he leaned down and connected their lips again.

Bella’s eyes widened in shock, but the resistance she expected to feel didn't come. Instead, she found herself melting into him. Her hands, which had been pushing him away only minutes ago, were now winding around his neck. The kiss deepened, becoming something hungrier and more desperate. Ethan’s hands began to roam, sliding under the hem of her shirt to find the warm skin of her waist, pulling her flush against him.

It was too much. It was too fast.

Suddenly, a flash of reality hit her—she remembered Molly, the hallways, the rumors, and the fact that she was currently making out with a man she was supposed to hate.

Bella gasped, tearing her lips away and shoving him back with enough force to make him stumble. She didn't say a word; she just turned and ran, her heart hammering against her ribs like a drum.

Ethan stood in the alcove, watching her disappear around the corner of the library. He raised a hand to his lips, his fingers tracing the spot where she had just been. A slow, dark smirk spread across his face.

"This is gonna be easy," Ethan whispered to the shadows. He licked his lips, savoring the lingering taste of her, before turning and walking away with the stride of a man who had already won the war.

The dorm room was quiet, save for the hum of the heater and the sound of Molly frantically rifling through her closet for an outfit. Bella sat on the edge of her bed, her mind a chaotic blur of green eyes and the lingering heat of Ethan’s touch. Every time she closed her eyes, she felt his hands on her waist, and it made her stomach do a somber, confusing flip.

"Girl, where were you?" Molly’s voice broke the silence, sharp with genuine concern. she emerged from behind a pile of clothes, a denim skirt in hand. "I didn't see you after class. I saw Ethan dragging you out like he was kidnapping you or something. Did he tell you anything? Did he do anything to you?"

Bella’s heart skipped. The memory of the alcove behind the library flashed vividly in her mind—the way she had leaned into him, the way she hadn't wanted to stop. She touched her lips instinctively, then quickly dropped her hand when she realized Molly was watching. She couldn't tell her. Not yet. She wasn't even sure what it meant herself.

"Nah," Bella said, her voice a little too high. "Nothing happened. He just... wanted to talk. More of his usual 'you're mine' nonsense."

Molly let out a long breath, her shoulders sagging in relief. "Well, good. At least he meant what he said."

Bella narrowed her eyes, her curiosity piqued. "What do you mean? What did he say?"

Molly sat down on the edge of her own bed, looking a bit sheepish. She started picking at a loose thread on her blanket. "Well, you see, Bella... me and Ethan were actually really good friends. Like, best friends. But we had a misunderstanding. More like he ghosted me completely ever since he and Scott had that massive fallout. He just shut everyone out."

Bella stared at her, stunned. "Really? Why didn't you tell me you guys were that close?"

"Well, I didn't want you to see me as a bad person," Molly admitted, her voice small. "You know, for being friends with a... well, a bully. I knew how much you hated him from day one, and I didn't want you to think I was on his side."

"Molly, you could have told me," Bella said, softening. "I wouldn't have judged you for your past."

"I know, I'm sorry," Molly said, giving her a small, hopeful smile.

"Anything else I should know?" Bella uttered, leaning back on her elbows.

"Well, we actually talked today. We settled things, and we’re kinda friends again," Molly said, her eyes brightening. "Don't worry, though. He promised me he wouldn't mess with you anymore. He said he was done pestering you."

Bella let out a dry, bitter snort. "Well, he is failing miserably at that promise," she muttered under her breath.

"Huh? What did you say?" Molly asked, tilting her head.

Bella quickly shook her head, forcing a fake smile. "I said... good thing. That's a relief."

She collapsed backward onto her bed, staring at the ceiling. If Ethan had promised Molly he’d leave her alone, then why was he still pinning her to walls and kissing her until she couldn't breathe? It was just another game to him. He was lying to Molly just to get back into her good graces, all while keeping Bella trapped in his twisted web.

"Oh, by the way!" Molly shouted, suddenly jumping up and throwing a sparkly top onto Bella's lap. "We are going to a house party this evening. It's at one of the senior mansions."

Bella sat up so fast her head spun. "What?"

"Yeah! It’s going to be huge," Molly said, already heading toward the mirror to check her makeup. "And Ethan said he’s looking forward to seeing us there. No excuses, Bella. We're going."

Bella looked down at the sparkly fabric in her hands, her heart sinking. A house party. Alcohol, dark corners, and Ethan. It was a recipe for a disaster she wasn't sure she could survive.