Eliot's POV*
The first thing I noticed when I opened my eyes was… silence.
Then, the unfamiliar ceiling.
My heart started to pound.
This—this wasn't my room. The walls were too clean, the bed too soft, the smell too expensive. Panic hit me like a truck. Where the hell am I?
*"Did I get kidnapped?"* I whispered to myself.
I bolted upright, scanning the lavish room. Marble floors. Velvet curtains. A gold-trimmed desk. Nope, definitely not the orphanage.
My hands scrambled to find my phone—my only lifeline. Maybe I could call 911. Or maybe… Mrs. Flora. She'd freak out. Hell, *I* was freaking out.
Suddenly, a deep voice cut through the silence.
*"Looking for this?"*
I froze.
Slowly, I turned—and there he was.
*Luciano.*
Standing by the door, dressed in black, tossing my phone in his hand like it meant nothing. My brain flashed back to last night—the alley, the drunk man, the blood.
My knees almost buckled.
*"Please don't kill me,"* I said, my voice trembling. *"I didn't do anything wrong!"I saw something flash in his eyes—was it hurt? But it vanished just as fast, replaced by that blank, unreadable stare he always wore.
*"I wasn't trying to kill you,"* he said calmly. *"I was helping you."*
*"Helping?!"* I snapped, inching backward. *"You stabbed a man to death! That's not helping—that's murder!"*
He didn't answer. Instead, he took a step toward me… then another.
My back hit the wall.
His tall frame towered over me, trapping me.
God, he was close. And tall. *Way* too tall. I'm 5'5, and he looked like he was carved from stone at 6'9. And his cologne—rich, dark, dangerous—wrapped around me, suffocating my senses.
Why the hell was I noticing his cologne right now?
*"You like what you see?"* he said in a low, teasing voice, his lips too close to my ear.
I shook my head, flustered, my palms pressing against his firm chest. I tried to push him away, but he didn't even flinch.
*"Don't mess with me,"* I said, breathlessly.
He smirked.
*"I'm not. But you're in my house.
I don't know how long we stayed like that — his body inches from mine, my breath caught somewhere between fear and… something else.
Something I couldn't name.
His eyes bored into mine. Deep. Unreadable. Dangerous. But in that danger, I saw something else. Something softer… fleeting.
*"Let me go,"* I whispered.
He didn't move for a moment.
Then he stepped back, just enough to let me breathe.
*"You're safe,"* he said. *"I told you that already."*
*Safe.* In the home of a man who could kill without blinking? A man I barely knew but whose presence was now burned into my skin?
*"Why did you bring me here?"*
*"Would you prefer I left you unconscious in that alley?"*
I frowned, lowering my eyes. He had a point, but still…
*"You should've called the police."*
He scoffed. *"You think the police would've cared? That man wasn't just drunk. He's a known trafficker. He's hurt people like you before."*
*"People like me?"* I raised my eyebrow.
His jaw clenched. *"Innocent. Soft. Vulnerable."*
That stung a bit. *"I'm not a child."*
Luciano stared at me, his gaze intense and probing, as if he were trying to decipher the very essence of my being. I felt exposed under his scrutiny, my heart racing in anticipation of what was to come. Then, in a sudden and unexpected move, he leaned in and kissed me.
My lips parted in surprise, and instinctively I tried to push him away, but my efforts were futile. He was relentless, his lips warm and demanding against mine. In a moment of confusion, I felt his teeth graze my lower lip, and before I knew it, he had gained access to the depths of my mouth. His tongue explored mine, swirling and teasing, igniting a fire deep within me. I was frozen, caught between the thrill of the moment and my inexperience.
He seemed to savor the taste of me, as if I were the most delectable treat he had ever encountered. I felt lightheaded, the air around us thickening with tension. When the need for breath became unbearable, I instinctively pushed against him, but he merely shifted his focus, trailing kisses down my neck, each touch sending shivers cascading through my body.
My legs grew weak, and I felt a warmth pooling in the pit of my stomach. The world around us faded away, leaving only the intoxicating sensation of his lips against my skin. Just as I thought I might lose myself completely in the moment, he pulled back, his breath heavy and his eyes dark with desire.
"I'm coming back," he murmured, his voice low and husky, before stepping away and leaving me in a daze, the shock of what had just transpired washing over me. I stood there, my mind racing, questioning why I hadn't pushed him away more forcefully. The thrill of his touch lingered on my skin, and I couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something dangerously exciting.
---
Luciano returned, his presence commanding and his demeanor unyielding. "Go and take a bath," he ordered, his voice firm, eyes narrowed as if daring me to defy him.
Eliot, still visibly shaken from our earlier encounter, interjected, "No, please. I just want to go back to my house."
Luciano's expression hardened, and he repeated, "Go and bathe." His tone left no room for negotiation.
Feeling the weight of his authority, I stood up quickly, my heart racing as I made my way to the restroom. The space I entered was unlike any bathroom I had known; it sparkled with luxury, the marble tiles gleaming under the soft glow of the lights. I felt a mix of awe and despair.
I turned on the running water, letting it cascade down, steam rising around me like a comforting embrace. As I stepped under the warm stream, I couldn't hold back the tears any longer. They flowed freely, mingling with the water, each drop carrying away a fragment of my confusion and fear. The vulnerability of the moment enveloped me, and I cried, releasing the pent-up emotions that had been building inside me.
After what felt like an eternity, I took a deep breath, trying to compose myself. I emerged from the shower, the warmth of the water lingering on my skin. As I stepped back into the bedroom, I found it empty, the silence amplifying my anxiety. On the bed lay an outfit, perfectly laid out as if waiting just for me.
I quickly dressed, the fabric feeling foreign against my skin, but I knew I had to be ready before he returned. I couldn't bear the thought of being caught naked again. Just as I finished buttoning my blouse, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror—a mix of vulnerability and newfound determination staring back at me.
Taking a deep breath, I opened the door and stepped outside, bracing myself for whatever awaited me next.
---