The room felt too small. The air? Heavy, thick with unspoken threats and promises. Alessandro stood across from me, his jaw set like granite, arms crossed over that broad chest. The kind of stance that screamed, don’t push me. Naturally, I wanted to push.
“This isn’t what we agreed on,” I said, my voice steady, even though my hands trembled behind my back.
His eyes narrowed, dark and unreadable. “Our agreement changes when you lie to me, Isabella.”
“I didn’t lie.” The words left my mouth too fast. A mistake. His smirk said he caught it.
“Didn’t you?” His tone was sharp, slicing through the fragile boundary between us. He stepped closer, deliberate and slow, the predator closing in.
I backed up, heels clicking against the marble floor. “You don’t own me.”
“Oh, but I do.” His voice dropped, low and dangerous. “Every inch of you. Mind. Body. Soul. All mine. Remember?”
I hated how those words made my pulse race. Hated how I couldn’t breathe when he was this close, smelling like power and sin. I wanted to fight him. But God, part of me wanted to surrender.
“You’re full of shit,” I spat, lifting my chin. “This isn’t about the lie. This is about control. You can’t stand the idea of me having any.”
“Careful, Bella,” he warned, his voice like a low growl. “I let you think you have control because it amuses me. But don’t mistake that for weakness.”
He reached out, his fingers brushing my jawline, tilting my face up so I couldn’t avoid his gaze. Damn those eyes. They saw too much.
“You think I’m weak?” I shot back, my voice shaking with defiance. “You think I need you?”
“I think,” he said, his thumb tracing my bottom lip, “you need me more than you’ll ever admit. And that terrifies you.”
I slapped his hand away, the sound echoing in the room. For a moment, there was silence, thick and electric.
“I’m not afraid of you,” I said, even though my heart was pounding like a drum.
“Liar,” he whispered, so close his breath warmed my cheek.
I moved past him, heading for the door. “This conversation is over.”
“Is it?” His voice stopped me in my tracks. “Walk out that door, and I’ll make sure your little ‘freedom’ stunt costs you everything.”
I froze, my hand hovering over the handle. I turned back to face him, fire burning in my chest. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
He stepped forward, all dominance and danger, until we were inches apart. “It means you don’t get to make the rules, Bella. Not in my world. Not in this.”
“This marriage is a joke,” I snapped, pushing against his chest. He didn’t budge. “You don’t love me. You don’t even like me. You just want to own me.”
“You think this is about love?” He laughed, cold and cruel. “This is about loyalty. About trust. Two things you seem incapable of giving.”
“Trust?” I echoed, my voice rising. “You don’t trust me either, Alex! You watch my every move like I’m your prisoner!”
“Because you keep giving me reasons to,” he shot back, his voice a whip crack. “Don’t pretend you’re innocent, Isabella. You’ve been hiding things from me since day one.”
I glared at him, my chest heaving with anger. “You think you know everything about me, but you don’t. You don’t know a damn thing about why I do what I do.”
“Then enlighten me,” he challenged, stepping even closer, his breath hot against my skin. “Tell me, Bella. Why do you keep running? What are you so scared of?”
“I’m not scared of you,” I hissed, my voice breaking.
“No?” He grabbed my wrist, not hard, but enough to make me freeze. “Then why are you shaking?”
I yanked my hand away, my eyes stinging with unshed tears. “Let me go, Alex.”
He stared at me, his expression unreadable. For a moment, I thought he might actually step aside. But instead, he leaned in, his lips brushing against my ear as he whispered, “You’re not going anywhere, Isabella. Not until you tell me the truth.”
I swallowed hard, my throat tight. “What truth?”
“Who you’re protecting,” he said, his voice deadly soft. “And why you think it’s worth risking everything.”
I felt the blood drain from my face. He knew. Or at least, he was close. Too close.
“Say it,” he pressed, his voice a command.
“I can’t,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.
“You will,” he said, stepping back, his eyes burning with promise. “One way or another.”
The air in his penthouse was thick, suffocating. Every inch of the room screamed power, danger, and him. Alex stood by the window, his silhouette sharp against the glow of the city lights. He didn’t turn when I walked in, but I felt his eyes on me like a brand.
“You’re late,” he said, voice cold, but laced with something darker.
Of course, I was late. I did it on purpose-testing the boundaries, pushing his control. He hated it, but God, I loved the way his jaw tightened when I broke his rules.
“I had a case,” I replied, dropping my bag onto the couch.
“Liar.” He finally turned, his gaze pinning me to the spot. “You wanted to piss me off.”
I shrugged, playing casual, but my pulse hammered in my throat. “Maybe.”
He moved closer, slow and deliberate. The air shifted, charged with tension. “Do you really want to test me tonight, Bella?”
God, the way he said my name-it wasn’t just a warning. It was a promise.
“Do you ever get tired of controlling everything?” I shot back, lifting my chin. “Or do you enjoy playing God with everyone’s lives?”
He smirked, a dangerous, wolfish grin that made my knees weak. “Playing God? No, sweetheart. I am God. At least in your world.”
The arrogance in his voice ignited something in me. Fury, frustration, desire-all tangled up in a messy knot I couldn’t untangle. “You’re not as untouchable as you think,” I hissed, stepping closer. “One day, someone’s going to bring you down.”
“Is that a threat, Isabella?” His voice dropped, softer now, but no less menacing. “Because if it is, you’d better be ready to back it up.”
My breath hitched, but I refused to look away. “Maybe it’s a promise.”
Something flickered in his eyes-surprise? Amusement? Whatever it was, it was gone as quickly as it came. He closed the distance between us, his hand brushing my jaw. His touch was gentle, almost tender, but his grip tightened just enough to remind me who was in control.
“You like pushing me, don’t you?” he murmured, his lips so close to mine I could feel the heat of his breath. “But don’t forget-pushing me has consequences.”
“I’m not scared of you,” I lied, my voice trembling just enough to betray me.
“Liar,” he whispered, his thumb brushing over my lower lip. “I can feel your fear, Bella. But you know what I love more?” His hand moved to my throat, not squeezing, just resting there-a silent threat. “Your fucking defiance. It’s intoxicating.”
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure. “And what if one day I stop fighting you? What happens then?”
He leaned in, his lips grazing my ear. “You won’t. Fighting me is who you are. It’s what makes this so goddamn addictive.”
My heart pounded as his words sank in. He wasn’t just playing a game-he was rewriting the rules, bending them to his will. And I hated that he was right. I couldn’t stop fighting him, because if I did, I’d lose myself completely.
Just when I thought I had regained control of the moment, he stepped back, his expression unreadable.
“Go to my office,” he said, his tone abrupt, cold again. “There’s something waiting for you.”
“What is it?” I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.
His lips curled into a smirk, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “You’ll see.”
The way he said it sent a chill down my spine. I wanted to press him, demand answers, but I knew better. Pushing him only worked when I controlled the timing.
I turned and walked away, my steps steady, my head high. But inside, I was unraveling. Whatever he had waiting for me-it wasn’t good.
And yet, some part of me couldn’t wait to find out.