THE BILLIONAIRE'S CRYBABY
Chapter 17: PLAYING WITH FIRE

Chapter 17: PLAYING WITH FIRE

"What is this?" He finally asked, folding his hand in front of his body.

Chef Alice didn’t like his tone, or his demeanor. For someone whose wife just gave the juiciest surprise, his reaction seemed rather dry.

She kept mum, and it was left to Fay to explain. Her hand twisted around the hem of her gown, as she thought of what to say. There was no welcoming embrace in his glare. He looked rather displeased.

"You’ve not eaten yet. Thought we could eat together, if you don’t mind," she said, her heart pounding against her chest.

There was no shift in his expression. It remained cold, and distant. But his eyes raked through her body; starting from her hair that cascaded down to her waist, and ended on the exact spot the big shirt did.

Her thighs, surprisingly toned and spotless, had his mind briefly occupied.

However, the tense silence chirped noisily in his ears, and he raised his head up, looking into the green of her eye. "I don’t remember asking for food." He kept his voice emotionless, but not as cold as the last few words he had spoken.

Fay’s face flushed with embarrassment, as her innocent eyes darted between the chef she had brought into this iciness, and the man she couldn’t seem to please. He was purposely creating a distance between them. Not too long ago, he had told her they needed to act in love. If he couldn’t even fake enthusiasm in front of his chef, what was the point in all of this?

"I’m sorry for not asking, before assuming. I just thought it’d be nice to share a meal. But it’s obvious you’re busy. We’ll leave you to continue your work," she said, and even managed a smile, regardless of how damn difficult it was.

As she moved her legs to turn, she felt a hand on her shoulder. "I didn’t tell you to leave yet," he said, dragging her until she was just inches away from him. Gently, he turned her around to face him. "Are you really just going to leave your husband to starve? Do you see how uncaring my wife is, Alice?" He looked past Fay, to the chef who looked like she wanted to disappear into the ground.

"I—" She stuttered, the appropriate answer to such a question, eluding her.

"It’s okay," he said, as he brought her hand to his lip, and placed a gentle kiss on it. "She’s still the cutest thing, isn’t she?"

Fay was too startled to say a thing. ’Who exactly are you?’ her mind fidgeted in turmoil. How he could easily switch between characters scared her to death.

"Bring the food in," she heard him say, as her eyes rose on its own accord, searching his face.

"Okay sir." Alice bowed, grateful to be free of the tension between husband and wife.

The door opened wider for her, and she scaled through with the tray in her hand.

A little alone with Ace, Fay shuddered with trepidation. The movement was so vibrational, Ace felt it.

He met her stare, stunned by how stunning she was. An image of her standing, laughing so freely with the stranger popped up in his mind, moving him to a possessive anger. His hold on her tightened, so hard, she winced in pain.

"You’re hurting me," she said in a hushed tone.

"Sorry darling." He stopped, pretending it wasn’t intentional.

Alice, done with preparing the table, exited the room.

"Leave us alone." He swiftly ordered, before she could say a word.

Pausing to stare at Fay who looked genuinely terrified, she said a silent prayer for her in her heart. She didn’t understand what was happening, but knowing the temperament of her boss, she hoped to God he wasn’t going to scare her off.

Momentarily at peace from the comfort her brief prayer brought, she bowed her head, and left them alone.

The moment she disappeared out of sight, Ace dragged Fay into his room, and shut the door behind her. Simultaneously, placing her back against its frame.

With his hand firmly on her shoulders, he hissed. "You shouldn’t have come in here."

His hand digging into her shoulders was a painful distraction. Her eyes squinting to adjust to the semi darkness of his room was a struggle. The woody masculine scent of the room wafting through her nose was slightly pleasant, but intimidating. The dark allure of his personal space was frightening. And she was stuck looking directly at his chest, because of how insanely tall he was.

"Say something!" He shook her shoulders, and glared at her.

"You’re hurting me," she said.

The way she framed that statement, halted his movement. It came out small, breathless and filled with pain. In seconds, her eyes watered. He didn’t mean to hurt her, especially not physically. But he couldn’t get the image of her laughing with another man out of his head, no matter how hard he tried.

"It shouldn’t matter to me," he said enigmatically, as his hand dropped to his side, but a finger rose to her cheeks, stroking it.

"What shouldn’t matter?" She asked, more confused than before.

He blinked twice, and shook his head. "Nothing," he stepped away from her. "Let’s eat, then you can return to your room."

He walked to his bed, and sat on it, leaving her alone by the door.

Using the opportunity she didn’t have before, she ogled his room. The blinds were thick enough not to let a single ray of light pass through. His walls were painted gray, but lined up with the most fascinating art pieces.

She could have taken her time to stare at every last one of them, but she felt his cold eyes on her, and knew she needed to keep it moving.

Dragging her feet closer to the bed, but with her head turned behind her, she managed to take in a little bit more of the room. His closet was just as large as hers, but it was his workspace that intrigued her. She knew he already had a home office, so why make an office space in his room?

So many things she was curious to find out about him. Like if he was a workaholic, and the reason he loved art pieces so much.

She was so lost in her appraisal, she missed the footing of the bed, and dashed her leg against it. The impact sent her flying into the air, and landing on the bed.

"Ouch!" She squealed, her voice muffled by the covers her face was buried in.

Ace watching the whole thing unfold, with amusement in his eyes, turned to her. A startling image welcomed him, wiping off the taunting smile on his face.

Her gown had rode up, and a hint of her butt cheeks was visible to his eyes.

Inhaling sharply, he quickly reached out a hand to cover it, but at the same time, she turned around.

His hand ended up on her stomach, as their gaze locked. In that tiny, little moment, he couldn’t see anything but her.

Fay with hair that looked like dancing wildfire. Fay with eyes the green of a forest, which surprisingly turned transparent, whenever she cried. Fay who apologized for everything, including things she had no business apologizing for. Fay who despite how much of an ass he intentionally was to her, thought to bring him food.

Fay, Fay, Fay.

His head moved forward with every mention of her name in his heart. Warning bells began to ring in his head, but he ignored them. Ever since seeing her with that guy, he wanted to prove something to himself.

Now he knew exactly what he had to prove. He moved his body along with his head, until his face was so close to hers, they breathed the same air.

"Are you okay?" He asked, his voice rough and ragged.

She bit her lip, caught by surprise at his sudden nearness, and the concern in his voice. "My foot hurts a little, but it’s nothing I can’t handle." She tried to keep her voice light. Pretended her heart wasn’t about to explode in her chest. He was so close, and all she wanted was to reach out, and touch him.

His face was so beautiful, he made Lucifer look like trash. Her body was reacting to him in ways it had never done before. And as much as it scared her, it excited her.

"Perhaps, a kiss could help numb the pain?"

Her heart skipped a beat, when his hand went behind her head. "Fay," he whispered, as his lip came down on hers.

It wasn’t as intense from the jump, like before. He took his time, savoring the taste of her lip. They had an extra flavor he couldn’t put a name on. He decided to name it Fay. Just like her scent that invaded his senses. If he could, he’d sniff her all day, everyday.

Slowly, he increased the intensity of the kiss, his tongue seeking for a deeper way in. When she granted him access, he shoved it down her throat. Loving her mouth with his tongue, until she clung to him in total surrender. Only then did he abruptly pull away, a victorious smile on his face.

"Let’s eat Fay," he said, feigning innocence at the fire he had just unfairly started, and quenched in her.