BETROTHED TO THE BILLIONAIRE

Ryan’s POV

Her hands circle around my waist as she restricts me from punching the idiot once again.

I have no explanation for my anger and resentment towards him but I guess the sight of Celina is adding all to this.

Tingles rush down my spine at her touch, calming my nerves and making me stare at her pretty hands, wishing for them to stay this way.

“Fred, stop this!” Celina’s voice jerks me out of my reverie. Fred is rushing towards me and she manages to push him away. “What is wrong with you?!” She shouts at him as he falls on his buttocks.

I wonder what kind of relationship they have but I guess I have no business with that.

I drop my hands and take a hold of Valerie’s two hands. Twirling around, I face her face. She looks frightened and I have never seen her this way before. Even the night she got attacked, she didn’t have this expression on her face.

Impulsively, I pull her into a hug. This hug is meant to comfort her, to reduce the fear but I am also deriving comfort from it too.

I am glad she broke up with him. I am glad she is with me and not him. I am sure she cares about me and not him. I thought she was going to fight me for punching him but she is obviously worried that I would get hurt as well.

When I pull away, she is at the brim of tears. I hold her face in between my hands and peck her forehead.

She is tense.

Realizing what I am doing, I step away from her and help her to the car without looking back to see what is going on between Celina and Fred.

In silence, we climb into the car and shut the door. John must have been watching the whole drama because of the surprised look on his face.

Fred should be glad that I no longer go out with my bodyguards. If I was still going out with them, then he would have himself to blame for wanting to call my wife names.

I remember what he said about the major reason why Valerie broke things up with him and curiosity fills me up.

Valerie tries to wrench her hand away from me, making it dawn on me that I am still holding her hand.

She has a faraway look on her face as I take my hand off her. My curiosity is getting the better of me, forcing me to ask her questions despite the heavy silence.

The car jerks to life and we ride in silence until we get home ten minutes later.

John comes down to open the door for us and she gets out. I follow.

I wonder why she isn’t saying anything. Is it because of Fred? Why isn’t she asking me how I got to know the girl we saw with her ex-boyfriend?

We take the stairs up to our room. When she turns the doorknob to enter, her stomach rumbles.

“Are you hungry?” I ask her as she enters.

She parts her lips to answer but changes her mind as she closes her mouth again without responding to my question.

I close the door quietly behind me, feeling guilty for no reason. Do I feel bad for acting like a thug out there when I punched him?

I was only trying to defend her. I didn’t want him to insult her or call her names. I wanted to prove to him that being with me is a blessing in disguise.

I don’t know the relationship between him and Celina and I don’t give a damn about what is between them.

If they are dating each other, then they deserve each other. Evil befits evil.

“Who is that girl?” A tone dripping with exhaustion reaches my ears and I look up to see her staring with a curious look on her face.

I duck my head aside to stare at her as she folds her arms. When she isn’t getting any response from me, she waves it away and turns to flop heavily on the bed, the curiosity still etched on her face.

I want to laugh. I wish she will be jealous of Celina but I know she won’t be jealous.

Valerie has no iota of feelings for me. There is no use trying to get her reeled up or jealous.

I sigh deeply and take off my shirt, revealing my shirtless chest. I walk slowly to the closet to pick up my pajamas when her voice stops me again.

“I’m sorry our date was ruined. I just hope there won’t be any pictures of us in the headlines by tomorrow.”

I want to assure her that there won’t be any. The first one was planned by me but this date was a private one. I didn’t make plans for any paparazzi to take pictures of us because there is no need for that.

Mother is already convinced that Valerie and I are working towards making this work and she already knows that Valerie is pregnant. There is no use causing any more fuse.

“I’m sorry we bumped into him too, I…”

“Hey, it’s fine”, I twirl around to take long strides toward her. It is unlike her to apologize like this and it’s surprising to know that she is feeling guilty for the very first time since we’ve known each other. I get close to the bed and sit on it, facing her squarely. “I should be the one apologizing, not you. I didn’t mean to get mad or ruin our date so I’m sorry.”

She nods, smiles sadly, and looks down.

I tilt my head and demand. “Why are you sad?”

“What?!” She hoists her head up with urgency.

“Why are you sad?”

“I’m not.”

“Is it because of that jerk?” She shakes her head with another smile that doesn’t reach her eyes.

“No. I’m not sad because of him. I just don’t like the idea of seeing him now and then. I just wish he would disappear and I won’t have any cause to see him ever again.” She says in one breath.

“Still having a hard time getting over him?” I arch a brow with an amused expression.

It feels good to see her this way. Emotionally worked up.

“What? No, that’s not what I mean!” She tries to deny it but I only chuckle as I watch her struggle with words to defend herself.

I dig my hand into her hair to ruffle it but it is tightly packed behind so I take off the ribbon and ruffle her hair, making them cover her entire face.

“What are you doing?” She hits me and I laugh. “Get away from here.”

The more she tries to tuck the hair back, the more I ruffle it and she picks up a pillow to throw at me but I am quick to shove the pillow away and hug her tightly.

She goes still, her hands hanging in the air. I swallow hard when it hits me that this is the second time I am hugging her in one night. I know how much she hates being this touchy with me but I can’t help it.

I can no longer resist this, probably because I feel she needs this. But I do need it too. I need to feel her presence now more than ever.

She is here with me and not with him. He doesn’t deserve her one bit.

I expect her to hug me back but she isn’t making an effort to so I hug more tightly and stroke her back. “Everything is going to be just fine.”

She does not respond.

Then she mutters an inaudible word and a sudden idea strikes me.

I release myself from the hug, her breath hitting my face. “You know what?”

“What?” She questions with interest.

“Let’s dance.”

“What?!”

“Yes. Our date was ruined but we can make up for it here. That will also lift your mood.”

She remains silent for a while and when she looks up, her hair still disheveled, she asks. “I thought you once told me how much of a bad dancer you are.”

I shrug.

I feel excited about dancing. The last time we went to a party, I was hell-bent on not dancing but she insisted. Now the tables have turned and I am the one persuading her to dance with me.

I just want to cheer her up. I love that rebellious and headstrong part of her more than this gloomy look on her face. I love her cheerfulness and smile and I’m sure I won’t have a good night’s sleep if she doesn’t cheer up.

Having a good time should help cheer her up. I can’t think of anything good we can engage in by this time of the night that can help except a little party here.

We don’t need drinks or food or anything. All we need is music. I know how much she loves music and dancing.

I am getting to know more about her gradually. Her mother has been helpful.

“Ok?” It sounds more like a question but I don’t wait for her to stand up before dragging her out of the bed.

I am still shirtless but I don’t think she minds because she isn’t even paying attention to it.

I pick up my phone and begin to play one of Christine’s music. Slow music.

We stand in position and within minutes, she begins to move and I follow her lead. Slowly, the smile begins to creep onto her face, my hand on her waist tighter as I wish we can be more close.

I wish her body can remain clung to mine forever just like it was earlier and a few minutes ago when we hugged.

The music changes from slow to fast. When she changes her step, I try to do the same but I step on her toes instead and we both find ourselves falling to the ground.

She hits the floor with a loud thud and I fall heavily on her, earning a low groan from her.

The music is still playing but we are laying on top of each other on the floor. When she winces, I look up to see her disheveled face covering her entire face once again.

I am supposed to get up immediately. I am not supposed to be still this way while watching her wince because of my weight but for no reason, I want to stay this way with her.

She waves her hair again to reveal her face.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

There is a sudden pull of attraction that wants to tempt me to kiss her lips till they look red and swollen.

The music stops instantly and I feel a throbbing in between my legs. Then it pokes her legs and I jerk upright.

I want to stand up but creeps of embarrassment fill my expression. When she isn’t making any comment about what just happened, I ask. “Are you ok?”

She nods slowly. Then, she begins to laugh.

I watch her laugh and within a split second, I find myself joining in the laughter too.