Giovanni
GIOVANNI
C hiara is fast asleep when I slip into her room, the soft rise and fall of her chest the only sound in the quiet space. I stand over her for a moment, watching the way her dark hair fans out across the pillow, the peaceful look on her face.
It’s a sharp contrast to the fire she usually has burning in those eyes when she’s awake, but that’s about to change.
I’m not giving her a choice this time.
She was supposed to be mine last night. The Chase was mine to win, but fucking Nikolai got to her first, and I can’t let that stand. This was supposed to be done right, the way it’s always been done.
Now, I’m going to make sure it is.
I knew Nikolai would be at Connor’s place tonight, and he’s just made this too easy for me. He deserves it after the shit he pulled last night.
I slide my hands under her, lifting her gently so she doesn’t wake. It’s not hard; she’s incredibly light. Even as I carry her out of the Suite, down the stairs, and to the car I’ve got waiting outside, she doesn’t stir.
She’s going to be pissed when she wakes up, but I’m counting on it. I need her angry—need her to fight, to show me that fire she tries to hide behind those cool, guarded eyes.
There’s no going back now.
The drive to Willow Bridge Forest is quick, the early morning roads empty, the sky just beginning to lighten with the first hints of dawn. I pull up to the edge of the forest and park the car, stepping out into the cool, crisp air.
Christ, she sleeps like the fucking dead; still out cold as I carry her deeper into the woods, to the spot where the Chase was supposed to end last night. The spot where I should’ve caught her.
Finally, I stop, lowering her to the ground with care. The leaves rustle under her as I step back, waiting. She’s only dressed in a pair of tiny silk shorts and a tank top, and I can see the goosebumps starting to pucker on her skin.
It doesn’t take long for her to stir again, her eyes slowly fluttering open. At first, she looks confused; her gaze darting around, trying to make sense of where she is.
“What the fuck…” she mumbles, her voice thick with sleep.
“Morning, Kitten,” I say, my voice low and cold.
Her head snaps up, eyes widening as she sees me standing there. “? What the hell is this?” She scrambles to her feet, her body tensing as she realizes she’s not in her bed, not anywhere near it.
“We’re doing The Chase the way it was supposed to go,” I tell her, my eyes never leaving hers.
Her face hardens, anger flashing in those eyes I’ve come to know too well.
“Are you out of your fucking mind? You can’t just?—”
“I can, and I did,” I cut her off, stepping closer. “Last night wasn’t right. This is the way it’s supposed to be. ”
She takes a step back, shaking her head like she’s trying to wrap her mind around the situation.
“This is bullshit, . You can’t just drag me out here in the middle of the night?—”
“You love telling me what I can and can’t do. Did you forget who I am?” I interrupt again, a cold smile curling my lips. “And you’re going to run just like you were supposed to.”
She stares at me, her mouth opening and closing like she can’t quite find the words.
“You’re fucking insane,” she finally spits out, crossing her arms over her chest like she’s daring me to try something.
I just shrug, my eyes narrowing as I look at her. “Maybe. But you’re still going to run.”
“Like hell I am,” she snaps, standing her ground. I can see the defiance in her eyes, the same fire that drew me to her in the first place. But I’m not backing down either. Not this time.
I let out a slow breath, trying to keep my temper in check.
“You don’t have a choice, Chiara. Run, or I’ll make you … You don’t want me to make you.”
She doesn’t move, her eyes locked on mine, but I can see the doubt starting to creep in.
“You’re not serious,” she says, but there’s a waver in her voice now. “I’m not playing this game.”
“Oh, I’m dead fucking serious,” I reply, my voice dropping low. “You’ve got ten seconds, then I’m coming after you.”
She doesn’t move, doesn’t speak, just stares at me like she’s trying to figure out if I’ve completely lost my mind. But I see the moment she realizes I’m not bluffing, the moment the fear flashes in her eyes.
“Ten,” I start, my voice cold and measured as I stuff my hands into the pocket of my jeans. “Nine.”
She takes a step back, her eyes darting to the trees around us. I can see her mind racing, trying to figure out her next move.
“Eight. Seven.”
“Fuck you,” she spits, but she’s already turning, her body tense and ready to bolt.
“Six.”
“, please?—”
“Five.”
She takes off, running as fast as she can into the darkness of the woods. I give her a few seconds, just enough to get a head start, before I start counting again.
“Four.”
The thrill of the chase is already starting to pulse through my veins, the adrenaline kicking in. This is what I wanted, what I needed. To do this right. To claim what’s mine.
“Three.”
I can hear her crashing through the underbrush, the sound of her footsteps fading as she gets deeper into the forest.
“Two.”
My muscles coil, ready to spring into action, my heart pounding with anticipation.
“One.”
I take off after her, the cold night air whipping against my face as I sprint through the trees. The forest is dense, but I know these woods like the back of my hand. I know where she’s likely to go, where she thinks she can hide. But there’s no hiding from me.
“Ready or not, I’m coming, Kitten,” I call out, my voice echoing through the trees.
I hear her curse in response, a flash of satisfaction running through me. She’s fast, but I’m faster. And I’m not just hunting her down—I’m enjoying every fucking second of this.
I can hear her ahead of me, her breath coming in ragged gasps, her footsteps frantic as she tries to put as much distance between us as possible. But it’s pointless. She doesn’t stand a chance. Not against me .
She glances over her shoulder, and our eyes lock for a split second before she whips her head back around, realizing how close I am. The fear in her eyes only fuels me, makes me push harder, my breath coming in sharp bursts as I close in on her.
“Fuck you, !” she shouts, her voice laced with anger and desperation.
“Only when I catch you, baby,” I taunt, a grin spreading across my face.
She veers off to the left, trying to throw me off, but I’m right on her tail, matching her every move. I can see the strain in her face, the way her muscles are starting to tire, her steps becoming less sure. She’s running out of steam, and she knows it.
“Is this how you get your kicks?” she pants, glancing back at me. “Chasing girls through the fucking woods like some psycho?”
“I’ve got my reasons,” I reply, my tone dark, cryptic.
“Yeah?” she snaps. “Well, they’re fucked up.”
“Of course they are,” I admit. “But so are you, babygirl. You just don’t want to admit it.”
She tries to veer to the right this time, heading toward a thick cluster of trees, but I’m on her before she can change course. She stumbles, nearly falling, but I catch her before she hits the ground.
She tries to fight me off, her fists pounding against my chest, but I don’t let go.
“Get off me!” she screams, her voice raw with desperation.
“Not until you admit it,” I growl, holding her tight against me. I grab her hands and pin them above her head. “Admit that you wanted this. That you wanted me to chase you.”
She freezes, her eyes narrowing as she looks up at me. “You’re out of your fucking mind.”
“Am I really?” I ask, my grip on her unrelenting. “You can’t tell me you didn’t feel it, Chiara. The rush, the excitement. You liked it.”
She gasps, struggling to break free, but I’m not letting her go. Not this time.
“Let me go!” she demands, thrashing in my grip, but I hold her tight, refusing to give an inch.
“Not until you understand,” I growl, my voice low and rough in her ear.
“Understand what?” she spits, her eyes blazing with fury as she glares up at me. “That you’re a fucking lunatic?”
“No,” I say, tightening my hold on her. “That you can’t keep running from this. From us.”
Her expression falters, just for a moment, and I can see the doubt flicker in her eyes. She’s scared, but she’s also angry—angry at me, at the situation, at herself.
But there’s something else too, something deeper that she’s been trying to bury. And I’m not letting her do it anymore.
“There’s no ‘us’ ,” she snaps, but there’s no conviction in her words. “And I’m not running from anything.”
I lean in closer, my lips brushing against her ear as I speak. “Liar.”
She stiffens in my arms, her breath hitching in her throat. She wants to fight me, to push me away, but she can’t. Not when she knows I’m right.
“You think I don’t see it?” I continue, my voice soft, dangerous as I let go of her hand and slide mine to her throat. “The way you try to pretend you don’t give a shit? The way you keep everyone at arm’s length because you’re too fucking scared to let anyone in?”
Her body tenses, and I can feel the rage building inside her, the anger she’s been trying to hold back threatening to explode. But she doesn’t move, doesn’t try to break free. Instead, she stays frozen in my arms, her breathing ragged, her eyes locked on mine.
“You don’t know anything about me,” she whispers, but there’s no strength behind her words.
“I know enough,” I reply, my grip on her neck tightening. “I know you’re terrified of what’s happening between us, because it means letting go of control. And you hate that. You hate the idea of being vulnerable, of letting someone else in—of letting me in.”
She stares up at me, her eyes wide, searching mine for something. An answer, a reason, anything that will make this easier. But there’s nothing. Just the cold, hard truth staring her in the face.
“You’re scared,” I say, my voice dropping to a whisper. “But you don’t have to be.”
She closes her eyes, her breath hitching. I can feel her trembling, the fight slowly draining out of her, and I know I’m close—so fucking close to breaking through that wall she’s built around herself.
But then she pushes against my chest, and the fire in her eyes is back, burning hotter than ever. Her chest heaving as she tries to catch her breath.
“This is fucked up, even for you.”
I smirk, leaning in closer until our faces are inches apart. “Debatable. But I told you I’m not playing around anymore.”
She struggles again, trying to push me away, but I don’t let her. Instead, I pin her to the ground with my body, my hands on either side of her head.
“You’re mine now,” I whisper, my voice dripping with possessiveness. “Just admit you belong to me.”
Her eyes blaze with anger, and she spits at me, her defiance flaring up again. “I don’t belong to anyone, especially not you.”
I grin, wiping the spit from my cheek, not the least bit fazed by her outburst. But then, slowly, deliberately, I lift my hand to my mouth, licking the spit off my skin without breaking eye contact. The taste of her defiance is sharp on my tongue, and it only fuels the dark satisfaction coursing through me.
Her eyes widen, and I see the exact moment when her anger gives way to something else. Her pupils blow out, and I can practically feel the tension between us ratchet up another notch.
I grin, a slow, wicked smile that I know will get under her skin even more.
“Oh, Kitten ,“ I murmur, my voice low and taunting, “you can deny it all you want, but we both know the truth. You don’t belong to anyone—yet. But it’s only a matter of time before you realize just how much you want to.”
Her breath hitches, the anger still there, but now mixed with something else. She’s caught off guard, her confidence shaken, and it’s written all over her face. I can see the way her body reacts, the subtle shift in her stance, the way her eyes darken.
“Still think you don’t belong to me, Micetta ?” I murmur, my voice dripping with taunt and promise.
She opens her mouth to respond, but nothing comes out. Her bravado is crumbling, just like I knew it would, and now all that’s left is that raw, unfiltered reaction that I crave.
I lean in, watching as her breath hitches, her gaze flicking down to my mouth before snapping back up to meet my eyes. She’s trying so hard to hold on to that defiance, but I can see it slipping through her fingers.
“Say it again,” I dare her, my voice low. “Say you don’t belong to me.”
She swallows hard, her lips parting as if she’s about to speak, but all she does is stare at me, caught in this twisted game we’ve been playing. I reach out, brushing my thumb across her lower lip, feeling the way she shudders at the contact.
“You can’t, can you?” I whisper, leaning in until our faces are just inches apart.
“Go to hell, ,” she breathes, betraying the uncertainty she’s trying so hard to hide.
I brush my lips against her ear as I whisper, “I’ll see you there, baby, and when you finally give in … you’ll be begging to stay.”
Before she can respond, I crash my lips against hers, my kiss hard and demanding, like I’m trying to claim her with every stroke of my tongue. She resists at first, her hands pushing against my chest, but I can feel the moment she starts to give in, the moment her anger starts to melt into something else—something darker, more primal.
She bites my lip, hard enough to draw blood, but I just growl in response, my hand tangling in the back of her hair as I kiss her deeper, harder. She tastes like defiance and fire, and it only makes me want her more.
It’s a battle, a clash of wills as we fight for control. I taste blood, but I don’t care. It only spurs me on, the pain mixing with the pleasure in a way that’s intoxicating.
But then, just as suddenly as it started, she shoves me away, hard, breaking the kiss and glaring up at me with fury in her eyes.
“You’re fucking insane,” she hisses, her chest rising and falling with rapid breaths.
“Maybe,” I grin and slip my hand around her throat again, holding her there. “But you’re the one who let me catch you, Kitten.”
She doesn’t respond, but I can see the conflict in her eyes, the way she’s fighting against whatever she’s feeling. She hates that I’m right, but she can’t deny it.
I loosen my hold on her just enough for her to breathe, but I don’t let go completely. She’s still trapped, still mine, and the realization of that seems to hit her all at once. She opens her mouth to argue, but nothing comes out. Instead, she just glares at me, her jaw clenched in defiance.
I reach up, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face, my fingers lingering on her skin. “Tell me I’m wrong,” I challenge, my voice soft but commanding. “Tell me you don’t feel it too.”
She hesitates, her eyes searching mine for something—an escape, maybe, or a way to deny what’s between us. But she finds nothing, because there’s no denying it. Not anymore.
“Fuck you,” she finally says, but there’s no heat behind the words, no real conviction.
I smirk, leaning in closer until our faces are just inches apart.
“Anytime, Kitten.” I bring my knee up between her legs, feeling her warmth right through my jeans. “Tell me, if I slip my fingers in between your thighs, will I find you wet for me?”
“You’re crazy?—”
“And you’re in fucking denial,” I say as I move my other hand in between her legs to cup her pussy.
She gasps, but when I look up into her eyes, I see her pupils are blown black. I can’t help but grin because now I know she’s turned on as well.
I nudge her legs open more and slip my fingers inside of her silk sleep shorts … only to find her soaked for me.
“I fucking knew it, you little slut,” I groan, running her wetness through her folds. She arches her back and whimpers. “You act like you’re this innocent little angel when, in fact, you want to be chased by me. You want this as badly as I do.”
I run my fingers over her clit and she throws her head back. “, please … Leo?—”
“Fuck Leo,” I growl and push two fingers inside of her. “You’re going to be a good girl and come on my fingers, then you need to fucking choose.”
She opens her legs more and I can’t help but grin as I run my thumb over her clit while the other two curve inside of her. She’s becoming breathless, lifting her ass from the ground as she chases what I know she wants.
“Choose? Wh … what do you mean?” she whimpers, shuddering in my arms as I feel her pussy start to clench.
I lean toward her ear and pick up my pace, already knowing what to do to bring her close to the edge. Her walls clamp my fingers, and I run my tongue up the length of her neck before I whisper, “Become an outsider’s pet … or be my Queen. ”
Her pussy grips me and she cries out, her head falling forward onto my shoulder as she shudders around my fingers. She digs her nails into my shoulders and I let her ride out her orgasm, while I brace myself for how she’ll react when she comes down.
Will it be fire or resignation?
With a final sigh, I pull my fingers out of her soaked slit and sit back from her. She watches when I draw my fingers to my mouth to taste her, her chest rising with every inhale, catching her breath.
“You taste like sin, baby,” I say, grinning as I tilt my head to the side. “Well, what will it be?”
I watch as she bites her bottom lip and looks anywhere but where I am; but it doesn’t take her long to look back up at me. Then she says something I didn’t fucking expect.
“Please take me home.”