CHAPTER FIVE: Taken

Noa didn’t sleep.

Again.

The words burned.

You’ll be in my bed tomorrow. Or I’ll take you from yours. Choose wisely.

“Motherfucker.”

He threw the phone across the room. It bounced off the wall and landed screen-down with a pathetic thud.

Didn’t matter.

The message wasn’t on the phone anymore. It was in his veins. His skull. His skin.

His mouth was dry. He kept licking it, but it only made it worse. His body felt tight, like it wasn’t his anymore.

No matter how many times he told himself:

I’m not going.

The craving only grew.

He wanted the touch again.

The heat.

The damn voice in his ear.

“Fuck you, Alessio.”

He hugged his knees, rocking slightly. He hated how wired he felt. How… electric.

Morning came.

Noa didn’t leave the apartment.

Didn’t shower. Didn’t eat. Didn’t check his phone.

Just sat.

Eyes locked on the door. Heart racing every time footsteps passed in the hall.

“I won’t go,” he whispered.

“You can’t make me.”

But even he didn’t believe it.

Because by sundown, he was standing in front of the mirror.

Black shirt in one hand. Hoodie in the other.

His reflection looked strung-out. Wild eyes.

“God, you’re pathetic.”

He yanked the hoodie on, hands trembling.

Then sat on the couch.

Waiting.

Don’t open the door. Don’t open the fucking door.

It was almost midnight when the knock came.

Low. Slow. Precise.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

No warning this time. No pretense. Just inevitability.

“Noa.”

His breath caught.

“Open the door.”

No. No. No. No.

“Or I’ll open it myself.”

“Go to hell,” Noa choked out, voice raw.

Click.

The lock turned.

Noa stared, frozen, as the door swung open.

Alessio stepped inside.

Black shirt. No tie. Sleeves rolled up. Veins visible on his forearms.

Eyes molten silver.

“You should’ve chosen.”

“You can’t just”

“I can. And I will.”

Alessio shut the door behind him, fingers brushing the wood as if savoring it.

Noa backed away until his calf hit the coffee table.

“Don’t touch me.”

“Then why are you dressed for me?”

“I wasn’t”

Alessio stalked closer.

“You’re trembling again.”

“Get out!”

“No.”

He caught Noa’s wrist.

The shock of skin to skin made Noa gasp. Electricity.

“Fuck let me go.”

“You should’ve come willingly.” Alessio’s voice dropped to a dark purr. Rough velvet. Dangerous.

“Now I’m going to take what I want.”

Noa shoved him.

Alessio let him. Smiled.

“Keep fighting. You know I love it.”

Noa’s back hit the wall.

“You’re sick,” he whispered.

“For you? Yes.”

Alessio pinned him, breath hot against his ear.

“Say stop,” he breathed.

Noa opened his mouth. Nothing came out.

“Exactly.”

Alessio’s mouth crashed onto his.

No warning. No mercy. Just heat and hunger and need.

Noa gasped, the burn of it slicing straight through him.

“Hate me all you want,” Alessio rasped, grinding against Noa’s thigh, “but your body says otherwise.”

Noa cried out as friction lit him up.

“Fuck no”

“Say stop.”

No sound.

Alessio grinned against his lips.

“Good boy.”

His hands slid under the hoodie. Bare chest. Hot fingers on sensitive skin. Noa arched involuntarily, a traitor to himself.

“So sensitive,” Alessio whispered.

“Alessio”

“Shh.”

Teeth grazed his collarbone. Noa whimpered.

“You want this,” Alessio breathed.

“I hate you,” Noa choked.

“Keep lying to me.”

One hand cupped him through his jeans.

Noa’s knees buckled.

“Fuck”

“Dripping hard already,” Alessio growled. “You were made for me.”

Noa bit his lip so hard it almost bled. Still, a moan escaped.

“Say stop.”

“I”

“Say it.”

“I can’t.”

Alessio’s eyes darkened.

“Good.”

He spun Noa toward the couch. Pushed him down.

“You’re mine tonight.”

Noa’s breath came ragged.

“You won’t survive this,” Alessio warned.

“I don’t care.”

“Fuck.”

Alessio was on him againmouth brutal, hands everywhere, body caging him in.

Noa clawed at his shirt, desperate.

“Touch me,” he gasped.

“Say please.”

“Please fuck”

Alessio shoved the hoodie up, dragging his mouth down Noa’s chest.

“So perfect,” he rasped.

Noa’s hips lifted, desperate for friction.

Alessio pinned them down with one brutal hand.

“Beg louder.”

“Please Alessio please”

Alessio’s fingers popped the button on his jeans.

Noa sobbed in relief.

“That’s it,” Alessio whispered.

His mouth followed, hot and wet and merciless.

“You’ll scream for me soon.”

Noa didn’t care anymore.

He was gone.

“Please”

Alessio’s tongue dragged a slow stripe.

Noa’s head slammed back against the couch.

“FuckAlessio”

The sound that ripped from him when Alessio took him in deep was pure filth.

“So sweet,” Alessio growled.

Noa was crying now. Choking on his own moans.

“More please”

Alessio sucked harder. Fingers bruising his hips.

“Come for me,” he ordered.

“I”

Noa shattered.

Hard. Violent.

Alessio swallowed every drop.

Noa collapsed, boneless.

“Holy fuck,” he gasped.

Alessio kissed him again hot, slow, claiming.

“Next time, I’ll ruin you completely.”

Noa could barely breathe.

“You already have.”

Alessio smirked.

“Good.”

He scooped Noa into his arms.

“Wha what are you”

“Taking you home.”

“I”

“No more running, Noa. You’re mine now.”

Noa struggled weakly.

“Stop fighting. You don’t want to.”

He didn’t. That terrified him most of all.

The car ride was a blur.

Alessio held him the entire way, firm and warm, possessive.

Noa’s body betrayed him, curling closer without permission.

“You’ll sleep in my bed tonight,” Alessio murmured.

“I  I”can’t 

“You will.”

The mansion was dark. Silent. Cold stone underfoot.

Alessio carried him inside like he weighed nothing.

“You’re shaking again.”

“I hate you,” Noa whispered.

“Keep saying it. I’ll make you love me soon.”

Noa’s heart pounded so hard it hurt.

“You can’t force love.”

“I can force obsession.”

Alessio laid him on silk sheets dark, cool, rich.

“You’ll wake up in my arms.”

“No ”

“Sleep.”

Alessio slid in behind him. Arm locked around his waist like a steel band.

“Don’t move. I’ll know.”

Noa bit his lip.

His body relaxed against the heat before his brain could stop it.

“Fuck.”

“Good boy.”

Alessio’s voice was the last thing he heard.

“Soon, you’ll beg to stay.”

He woke up cold.

Empty sheets.

“Alessio?”

No answer.

Panic surged.

He sat up, dizzy.

Door unlocked.

“Fuck this I’m leaving.”

Barefoot. Shirt wrinkled.

He ran.

Down endless halls. Echoing. Shadowed.

“Where the fuck is the exit ”

A voice stopped him cold.

“Going somewhere?”

He turned.

Alessio stood at the end of the hall.

Shirtless. Blood on his hands.

Eyes wild. Silver and unhinged.

“You weren’t supposed to see this yet,” he said softly.

Noa froze.

“Alessio what ”

Alessio smiled, slow and sharp.

“Now you really can’t leave.”

“Why why is there blood ”

“You’ll stay. Or you’ll end up like them.”

Noa’s breath caught.

Alessio stalked toward him, bare feet silent on stone.

“You should’ve stayed in bed, Noa.”