"How did this happen?" He asked with a certain gentleness while caressing my hand with his finger.

"Umm, I, by mistake consumed mushroom during the dinner and I'm allergic to them." The moment those words left my mouth all the concern vanished and was now replaced with sheer anger.

"How fucking careless can you be, Miss. Ashton?" His voice was so hard that it almost made me flinch, I bite my lower lip.

He raked his fingers through his hair, glaring at me with his jaws set firm.

"It wasn't my fault Mr. Longwood, it looked more like croutons to my eyes because of the dicing." I clarified.

"What a wonderful excuse to hide your absurdity and you didn't even bother to inform me?" He hissed in exasperation.

"I thought I can reach home and take my pill. Moreover, I didn't want to annoy you, like you are now," I said, fiddling my fingers.

"Right, and what if something more serious would have happened? What if it would have caused you food poisoning?"

I didn't have an answer to his questions.

"As long as you are with me, you are my responsibility, Miss. Ashton." He lets out a sigh in resentment, I peek at him, the anger that his eyes held were softening considerably.

"I'm sorry," I whisper with a frown on my lip.

"Do you have any medications with you?" He asked, I shook my head signaling a no.

"Wait right here," He muttered unlocking the door before stepping out in this heavy rain, I shudder when the cold breeze hits my bare skin along with the sound of the rain.

"Mr. Longwood, where are going?" I yell and followed him through the window, he reached the back of the car opening it's boot, and comes back holding a square-shaped box before slamming the door shut.

I followed his every move carefully without disturbing him.

"Give me your hand," He said, picking up a tube-like thing from the emergency box.

"It wasn't necessary Mr. Longwood, see you're almost drenched because of me," I say feeling guilty for bothering him.

He regarded me with a bored look taking my hand forcefully and applied the cold transparent gel or an ointment whatever they call it on the back of my hand.

I snatch my hand before he could spread it because of its coldness. "It's cold Mr. Longwood!"

"Stop behaving like a kid, how old are you, five?" He scowls taking my hand once again giving a glare silently conveying to seal my lips and sit quietly.

He dabbed the ointment with a help of a cotton swab carefully making sure not to hurt me. He continued to apply it on my arms as well.

"Ther are some rashes on your neck," He mumbles, his voice was so husky and smooth as butter with his blue orbs boring into mine like he's asking for my permission, I nod my head.

He leans forward and the air gets caught in my throat, our faces we're inches part as he applies the cold ointment on the crook of my neck.

I press my lips together into a thin line trying to avoid my ragged breathing which was extremely difficult with my heart hammering against my rib cage.

A shiver runs down my spine when his fingers brushed my bare neck.

All of a sudden, the entire surrounding felt hot with the heat radiating off him, finally, after what felt like hours he moves back, and I visibly release a breath in relief.

Oh my.

"Thank you," I reply softly while trying my best not to flush but failed miserably, I'm sure I was red as a strawberry.

He like every other time gives me a nod with a sly smirk forming on his lips clearly enjoying how he was affecting me, he puts everything into the box before tossing it on the back seat.

He and his intimidating behavior. I thought shaking my head.

I noticed that his coat was half drenched, his hair was damp with a few droplets of water running down his face.

Oh, no. He'll catch a cold.

"You should remove your coat, Mr. Longwood," I say and he cocks his brows.

"What I meant is that your coat is half drenched, so if you don't remove it, you'll fall sick, which I don't want you to," I explain, and for the first time, he did what I told.

He undid the buttons of his coat removing it smoothly and hung it behind his seat, before rolling up the sleeves and opened the top few buttons of his crisp white shirt.

I was able to catch a glimpse of his perfectly toned body with the veins running through his hands.

So powerful, so fucking alpha.

Damn! Too hot to handle. I fan myself.

What a hot specimen he is, no wonder Lilly fell for him, for who could resist this charming bastard.

I'm an exception though, I've learned my lesson in a very hard way.

I forcefully tare my gaze away from this hot beast.

Plugging the earphones, I listen to pop songs.

Out of blue the wires from my ears we're forcefully pulled away taking me by surprise, I looked at the sinner next to me.

"Stop singing for fuck sake, my eardrums will blow up."

I cringe at myself giving him a sheepish smile. "Sorry,"

"You're a terrible singer, dare to do that again," He taunts.

I roll my eyes at him, what does he know about music.

"I'm shifting back, wake me up if it stops pouring. Have a good night Mr. Longwood," I say with my eyes drooping.

"Go ahead." He replied lifting his head from his laptop screen.

In one swift moment, I changed my position and laid down. "Mr. Longwood?"

"Yes?" He turns towards me.

"Can you please switch the lights off?" I requested closing my eyes, I can feel the darkness.

Good night Ocean eyes. I whisper before sleep took me over.

***

I wake up when I felt the light hitting my eyes, I sit up stretching my hands, that's when I noticed that I had his coat on top of me.

I held his charcoal grey coat close to me wearing a smile, I had his faint smell on me.

Did he cover me?

It's been a long night, my legs were brittle, and my shoulders were sore. I glanced at my hand the redness and the rashes were gone.

The climate outside was still cold and gloomy and I automatically crave my coffee.

My watch showed 8:30 a.m, did I sleep for that long?

I shift carefully making sure not to disturb him, he was sleeping peacefully with his hands crossed over his chest.

So peaceful.

"It's rude to stare, Miss. Ashton." He says with his eyes closed bringing me out of my daydream.

Shit, he knew!

"No-no, I wasn't starting." I blurt out.

He lets out a mocking 'Hmm' in response, fluttering his eyes open, he greets me with his morning smirk.

"Morning, sir." I wish him with my sugar-coated smile, trying to change the topic.

"We should get going now, " He says starting the engine.

"Yeah,"

We start our journey back home, he stops the car abruptly in front of a luxurious restaurant, I looked at him in a confused state stepping out.

"Let's go,"

"I'm not hungry." I lie to him, but he takes hold of the wrist dragging me inside.

Letting out a sigh I follow him, a woman escorted me to a guest room where I freshened up, after which she led me to an empty table.

I couldn't find him anywhere, shrugging I took my seat going through the menu. He came back after some time dressed in casuals.

When did he even arrange all this?

Indeed money can get everything in a snap of the finger.

The waitress walks in to take our order, I ordered blueberry pancakes with a cappuccino.

I noticed he wasn't ordering anything apart from his civet coffee, so I stopped the waitress.

"Excuse me?" She flips around and walks towards me, I ordered an Acai bowl that he usually prefers secretly hoping that he won't lash me out.

He was so busy with his phone that he didn't even notice me ordering food for him.

"How is you're hand?" He questions after some time.

"Oh, I'm good. The redness is gone now, look." I said, showing my hand, he glanced my hand as though ensuring I wasn't lying.

"Thank you for yesterday, Mr. Longwood," I mumble with a tight smile, the waitress came back with our order, he glanced at the food in front of him before looking at me.

"You didn't order anything for yourself, so I thought I should, the Acai bowl is for you. " I said with hesitancy.

"You're forgetting that I am the boss here and not the other way around Miss. Ashton." His hands were folded with brows raised staring at me intently.

I should have been daunted by his statement, but the devilish look that his face held was telling me otherwise.

"Sorry," I say with sadness, I'll probably die apologizing to him in this life.

Soon a satisfactory smile curled up on my lip when I see him picking up his spoon, with this, I get busy with my breakfast occasionally sipping my cappuccino while glancing at him a few times.

This journey wasn't that bad after all, he isn't that bad.