A throbbing ache pulsed in Bella’s head as she stirred awake the next morning. She winced, instinctively pressing her fingers against her forehead. She had a feeling that her head would split up.
"Uh..." she groaned, squeezing her eyes shut. The memory of last night’s overindulgence flooded back, and she regretted drinking so much. "This is all his fault," she muttered under her breath, blaming Theodore for her predicament.
"Really?" A deep, husky voice startled her eyes open. She spun around, heart leaping into her throat, to see a tall, imposing figure standing by the French window. Sunlight streamed through, highlighting the breadth of his bare chest as he ran a towel through his damp hair.
A blush crept up Bella’s neck as she met Theodore’s gaze. A smirk played on his lips, sending a jolt through her. For a moment, she couldn’t tear her eyes away. His physique was undeniably impressive, every muscle defined and powerful. Her gaze traveled down his form, a flicker of something more daring igniting in her eyes.
Then, like a splash of cold water, memory slammed back. The image of Theodore with Willow flashed in her mind, contorting her face in a grimace.
"Why am I here?" she snapped, the hostility in her voice a stark contrast to her earlier fascination.
Bella struggled to piece together the events from the previous night. She remembered drinking with Bridget and Joe, supposed to be heading home with them. But how did she end up here, in Theodore’s bed? A scowl settled firmly on her face as she demanded answers.
The swift shift in Bella’s demeanor caught Theodore off guard for a moment. Then, comprehension dawned, and the mischievous glint returned to his eyes. With calculated steps, he sauntered towards the bed.
"Seems like you’ve forgotten something," he drawled with amusement. His gaze dipped pointedly to the white shirt adorning her, the one that wasn’t hers.
Bella, hyperaware of his scrutiny, followed his line of sight and gasped. "Uh!" Her breathing hitched in her throat, and her hands flew to her chest instantly. What had happened last night? Had anything happened between them?
She darted a suspicious glance at him, only to find him smirking with an infuriating smugness. The image of him with Willow surfaced again, fueling a fresh wave of jealousy and insecurity that intensified her annoyance.
Why had he touched her when he liked Willow?
"You!" she sputtered. "Why did you change my clothes?"
Theodore shrugged, feigning helplessness. "Well, what else could I do? I couldn’t let you sleep with vomit-stained clothes."
Bella’s jaw slackened as a hazy memory flickered to life – the uncontrollable nausea, the expulsion of her stomach’s contents all over him. Her cheeks burned with humiliation as she clapped a hand over her mouth, mortified by the aftereffects of her drunken stupor.
"You were quite the handful last night, weren’t you?" he murmured huskily as he moved in closer. A hint of amusement danced in his eyes. "Lost to the effects of the alcohol – You were not in yourself. You threw up on me. Such audacity!" He pinched her chin between his thumb and pointing finger, tilting her chin up, forcing her to meet his gaze. The intensity in his eyes stole her breath.
"No one dared to do such things to me ever," he said with his deep, husky tone. "Do you think I’ll spare you so easily?"
Bella’s stomach knotted with nervous energies, the memory of her transgression flickering back. She had indeed done something that was embarrassing and outrageous at the same time. A wave of heat flooded her cheeks. How was she even still alive after such audacity?
"Wh-what are you going to do with me?" she stammered, her voice barely audible.
"Ah," he drawled, his hot breath fanning across her face. "That’s the intriguing part, isn’t it? I am considering how to punish you."
Panic clawed at Bella’s throat. Punishment? "Are you really going to punish me?" she asked with apprehension.
"Indeed," he said, his voice a low purr. "Tell me, Bella, how exactly do you propose to appease me for your transgressions?" He asked, hiding the amusement bubbling within him.
Desperate for a way out, Bella’s mind raced. "I apologize," she blurted, her voice trembling. "I’ll do anything! I’ll wash your clothes, iron them perfectly, clean the entire house – Will it be enough?"
Washing clothes? Ironing? Was that all she thought he desired?
He was disappointed. Here he was, practically offering his heart on a platter, ready to fulfill her demands for her, and she couldn’t see it.
However, he had to play along for the time being. "I’ll consider whether I’ll forgive you or not," he said solemnly. "It all depends on how sincere you are. Tonight, I have my sister coming for dinner. Be home early, and treat her well. If you manage to impress her, perhaps I’ll consider forgiving you."
With that, he pivoted to leave, the towel around his waist slipping down. He froze mid-step, eyes widening.
A gasp tore from Bella’s lips as she jumped back, hands flying to cover her face. Her heart hammered against her ribs.
Theodore mortified, scrambled to pull the towel higher, the fabric bunching awkwardly around his waist. He beat a hasty retreat into the adjoining dressing room, his face burning brighter than the rising sun.
Bella scrambled out of bed and lunged for the bathroom, mirroring Theodore’s panicked retreat. Every inch of her body was scorched with embarrassment. "What on earth has just happened?" she mumbled with disbelief.
The image of Theodore, gloriously naked, burned into her mind. No matter how tightly she squeezed her eyes shut, the vision refused to fade. Her chest rose and fell with rapid breaths.
"How am I supposed to face him now?" She tapped her hot cheeks. "I won’t be able to look into his eyes. Bella, you need to get a grip and get out of here... fast!"
A quick shower barely cooled the burning heat of embarrassment that clung to Bella. Emerging from the bathroom, she cast a wary glance around the room. She was relieved that Theodore was not there.
Luckily, she had spare clothes, which Theodore had arranged earlier. Dressing hurriedly, she practically tiptoed out of the room, head bowed low. Even if he materialized in front of her, she was determined to avoid him at all costs. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂
Just as she reached the door, his voice echoed from somewhere down the hall. "Where are you off to in such a hurry? Don’t you want breakfast?"
Bella paused momentarily, her heart thumping loudly. "I am running late." Without waiting for a response, she bolted out the door, leaving Theodore staring after her retreating figure.
A slow smile spread across his lips. "How long will you keep running? You are my wife, and this marriage...will be consummated soon enough."
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