The Third Person’s POV
The dimly lit room seemed to hum with tension as Isabella adjusted the collar around her neck, her fingers trembling just a bit as she did so. She hated it. And yet, she craved it. She hated the way it made her feel so exposed, so vulnerable-yet it was exactly this vulnerability that drew her closer to him.
She knew better than to look for affection in his eyes. Alex Ricci, her husband-the cold, calculating mafia kingpin-had never been one for soft words. He thrived on control, and if there was one thing that defined their contract, it was that: control. Isabella had long since stopped trying to decipher his emotions, but his actions? Those were clear.
He walked into the room without a word, his presence consuming every inch of space like a predator about to pounce on his prey. His dark eyes locked onto hers, and she could feel the weight of his gaze like a physical touch.
“Get on your knees,” he commanded, his voice low, rough. It wasn’t a request. She didn’t dare disobey.
Isabella dropped to the floor, the coldness of the tile beneath her serving as a reminder of the distance between them-both physically and emotionally. But despite everything, despite the aching void inside her, there was still a part of her that craved his touch. She hated how much she needed him, even when he showed her none of the tenderness she desperately wanted.
He circled her slowly, his footsteps deliberate and purposeful, like a predator sizing up its prey. She could feel the weight of his gaze on her, her body responding against her will.
“You’ve been good,” he murmured, voice dripping with condescension, “But you still don’t get it, do you? I’m not here to give you affection. I’m here to own you.”
She felt her stomach twist with a mixture of dread and something darker-something that made her pulse quicken.
Alex stopped in front of her, towering over her like a god, his hand coming down to grip her chin, forcing her to look up at him. His fingers were cold, almost icy, but there was nothing gentle about the way he touched her.
“You think this is all there is, don’t you?” he growled, his thumb pressing against her lips as though daring her to speak. “You think I don’t know what you want. That you crave something more.” His gaze was unreadable, cold and calculating, but she knew better than to try to hide her thoughts from him.
She didn’t respond. There was nothing to say.
His lips twitched into a barely perceptible smirk as he lowered his hand, brushing his fingers against her collar, tugging it slightly. “This collar,” he said, his voice a whisper of dominance, “it’s a symbol, isn’t it? Of everything you’ll never escape. No matter how hard you try, no matter how many times you think you can run, you’ll always come back to me.”
Isabella swallowed hard, her throat dry, her heart racing. Was he right? Could she ever truly escape him, or was she trapped in a cycle of lust and submission that she couldn’t break? Every time she thought she had a grip on herself, on her emotions, he dragged her back into his orbit with nothing more than a look.
But that wasn’t all there was, was it? There was something deeper in him-something buried beneath the cold exterior. And no matter how much he denied it, no matter how much he played the role of the distant, unemotional boss, she knew it was there. She knew, deep down, that there was more to their relationship than just a contract. But he’d never let her see it. Not yet.
The silence stretched between them, thick and suffocating. She could feel the pulse in her temples, the tension in her body, the growing ache in her core. He could always make her feel like this-like she was being pulled in two directions at once, torn between the need to submit and the need to break free.
“You’re mine,” Alex finally said, breaking the silence, his voice low but firm. “And you will never forget it.”
Before she could respond, he yanked her up, forcing her to stand. Her body swayed slightly, her legs unsteady, but he held her firm. His grip was relentless, pulling her closer to him. His lips descended onto hers, bruising, demanding, but she didn’t resist. She couldn’t. Her body responded as it always did, betraying her mind.
She felt his hands roam down her body, his touch leaving a trail of fire in its wake. The coldness that emanated from him was in direct contrast to the heat building inside her, and it only made her crave him more.
His lips moved to her ear, his voice a whisper of menace. “You’ve been so patient, Isabella,” he murmured, “But I think you’ve earned your reward.”
Her heart skipped a beat, but before she could react, his hand was on her throat, applying just enough pressure to make her gasp.
“Do you want this?” he asked, his breath hot against her skin. “Or do you want to leave me? Either way, I’ll make sure you remember tonight.”
Her chest heaved with every breath, the question hanging between them like a dark cloud. Could she really leave him? Could she walk away from everything they had built-no, everything he had built-just to escape the suffocating grip he had on her soul?
Before she could answer, the door to the room opened with a harsh creak. Both of them froze.
Isabella’s heart pounded in her chest as she turned, her eyes widening in shock.
“You’re not alone in here, Alex,” the voice from the doorway cut through the tension like a knife.
Alex’s gaze flicked to the door, a flash of annoyance crossing his features.
“Get out,” he growled, his voice cold and authoritative. But Isabella could see the flicker of something else in his eyes-something he didn’t want her to see. Something that made her wonder if maybe, just maybe, his control over her wasn’t as absolute as he made it seem.
But before she could fully process the situation, Alex’s eyes locked onto hers again. “We’ll finish this later. Don’t forget your place.”
And with that, the door slammed shut, leaving Isabella standing there, breathless, confused, and more lost than ever.
What had just happened?
And what did this new twist mean for the twisted game they were playing?
The questions churned in her mind, unanswered, as the room once again fell into silence.