3: To Close for Comfort

Arielle's POV

"Better," I said to myself as I looked in the mirror.

After breakfast and taking a bath, I felt refreshed, and since classes were starting later, I had an hour or so to myself.

"What to do?" I whispered as I turned and looked at my bed.

Instantly, I smirked and rushed to grab my phone, which was there.

There was no better way to entertain oneself without the internet; at least that's how it was for me.

As soon as I unlocked it, I frowned deeply. My phone battery was flat, and that was all thanks to Evelyn.

She could afford a phone charger, yet she refused to buy one and always kept mine prisoner in her study.

It was no big deal most of the time, but at times it was a little unbearable.

I sighed heavily and slowly walked out of my room to go to her study. Once I reached the door, I wrapped my hand around the doorknob and pushed it open.

Instantly, I held my breath. Cassian stood by the window with a phone to his ear. He wasn’t wearing a shirt anymore. He wore a black tank that clung to his torso, outlining every muscle. Tattoos wrapped around his biceps like shadows, which were beautiful yet dangerous.

He was speaking in Spanish in a low yet harsh tone.

When he turned and glanced at me, I felt stuck and unable to utter a word.

Unlike before, when Evelyn was around, he looked calm and friendly. But now he looked annoyed, and this time, he didn’t smile at me; rather, he was glaring at me.

For a moment, he just stared at me, and that made me feel very awkward. He sighed heavily and then ended the call.

“What do you need?” he asked finally.

"What do you mean by that? This is my mother's study, not yours!" Those were the words that went through my mind, which I couldn't bring out.

I swallowed hard and took a deep breath.

“I—uh, my mom’s charger, I mean mine. It's usually here,” I stammered.

He rolled his eyes and then walked to the desk and grabbed the charger.

"Is this the one?" he asked lazily when he turned back and looked at me.

I hesitated but reached for it. When my fingers brushed against his, I quickly pulled back.

My heart felt like it was flaring up as it beat wildly.

“Thanks,” I whispered.

“You’re welcome, Arielle,” he said softly. But there was something in his voice that sounded as if he were teasing me yet again.

I quickly rushed out, shutting the door a little too fast behind me.

Something was definitely wrong with me! Perhaps I was sick or stressed! Yes, I was stressed because I was about to sit for exams.

I needed to cheer myself up with my favorite things and food, so yogurt was the best answer.

I quickly rushed to the kitchen, making sure I grabbed all the utensils I needed and some strawberries for my yogurt.

As I stood by the counter slicing the strawberries, I began making a silent prayer for Raya to come back; she was already very late, and that only made me feel worried.

When the sound of heavy, slow footsteps and keys echoed down the hallway, I smiled.

"You are late, Raya," I said seriously, pretending to be upset. But when the footsteps paused in the kitchen doorway and no response came through, I shifted and turned.

My breath instantly caught.

Cassian stood still, shirtless, with a single towel tossed lazily over his shoulder, and his damp hair curled slightly at the edges.

"I'm not her," he answered casually.

Of course he wasn't; I wasn't blind!

“I didn’t know you were here. Also, Evelyn said you had class today,” he said in a low tone as I frowned.

Was he asking me to leave right now? Because it felt as though he was kicking me out of my own house!

“I—uh, classes start late; moreover, don't you have work as well?” I managed to get the words out, my gaze going back to the strawberries for a second.

He walked to the fridge in silence, opened it, grabbed a water bottle, and twisted the cap.

“Earlier in the study, I didn’t mean to scare or glare at you,” he said, surprising me.

“You didn’t,” I lied.

He moved closer and stood next to me, taking a sip from the bottle. When he leaned back against the counter, carefully looking at me, I froze.

His eyes undoubtedly looked a bit icy.

I cleared my throat, thinking of how I could change the conversation.

“Did my mom leave for work?”

I silently cursed at myself for asking such an obviously lame question.

“Yes, she did. She also said she would be a little late,” he answered and then raised a brow.

“Are you usually up early?” he asked, watching me closely.

“Of course, I like mornings,” I answered and then laughed nervously.

"That's why, ever since I was in high school, Raya always told me how I was going to make an amazing lover and partner to my man," I said and immediately regretted the words as soon as they left my mouth. Why did it sound like a flirt?

He smirked, barely, but it was there.

“The perfect lover, I see,” he whispered.

My heart was pounding like crazy, and I hoped he could not hear the pounding as well.

"Excuse me," I said in a low tone and then rushed to the sink to rinse my hands.

I quickly looked to the side when he stepped beside me to grab a spoon from the drawer.

"Whatever you are making, I wouldn't mind a taste," he said huskily as I swallowed hard.

"It's nothing," I answered, then walked back to the counter and grabbed the yogurt.

"I seriously want a taste," he said, this time with emphasis.

“I said it's nothing,” I replied loudly, turning around—only to freeze and hold my breath when I found him standing right in front of me, just inches away, looking down at me.

When he moved his hand and grabbed the side of the yogurt, his fingers brushing against mine, I couldn't help but gaze into his eyes.

The contact of his fingers was obviously an accident, yet why did it make my heart flutter and feel like the universe had held its breath?

“You... you might want to put on a shirt next time. Not everyone’s immune to... seeing such," I forced out the words as I moved back.

"Do you mean distractions?" He asked in a low tone with a brow arched. 

He was teasing me! What the hell was wrong with him? Did he find doing such a thing amusing? 

“Noted,” he said softly. 

I sighed in relief and looked at the yogurt in my hand.

“But this is now my house,” he muttered.

“And I’m still my mother’s daughter, so this is also my house,” I answered seriously then looked up as our eyes met.

“Just try to behave, Arielle,” he said as he took a few steps back.

 “You’re not a little girl anymore,” he said as I blinked in disbelief.

What the hell did that even mean?

Before I could yell at him, he turned and walked away, with his towel draped over his shoulder and his back muscles flexing with every step he took until he disappeared into the hallway.

And just like that, the room felt too cold and too quiet. And all I felt was confusion and anger.