CHAPTER THREE: Touch Starved

Noa.”

The knock came again.

Soft. Measured. Dangerous.

Noa pressed his back to the door.

“Go away,” he whispered.

His heart was thundering.

His body was traitorous. Still burning from the brush of Alessio’s fingers earlier.

“I want you to open the door,” Alessio said, voice a low hum through the wood. “Now.”

“Fuck off.”

 “You can’t shut me out forever.”

Noa shut his eyes tight.

“Watch me.”

A pause.

For a moment, he thought the man had gone.

Then a card slid under the door. Black, embossed.

You’ll come to me.

“Soon.”

Footsteps. Slow, deliberate. Fading.

Noa slumped to the floor, breath ragged.

Goddammit.

“I hate him,” he muttered.

Lie.

Half a lie.

The next day was hell.

He couldn’t focus.

Couldn’t work.

Every time the doorbell rang at the bookstore, his pulse spiked.

Every time someone in a black coat walked by the window, his throat went dry.

“You okay?” Adrian asked. “You look like shit.”

“Thanks.”

“I mean it. You need to talk”

“Drop it.”

Noa didn’t want to explain.

Didn’t want to say: The city’s most dangerous man is stalking me and I can’t stop thinking about his fucking hands.

Instead, he powered through the shift. Ignored the looks.

When it ended, he didn’t go straight home.

He walked.

Miles.

Till the sky turned violet and the streetlamps flickered on.

But even in the open air, Alessio was there.

In his head. In his skin.

“Fuck you,” he whispered to the wind.

But the words had no weight.

When he finally dragged himself home, the apartment was dark.

He kicked off his boots. Threw the keys down.

“Get a grip,” he told himself.

The mirror caught his eye.

He looked… wrecked.

Eyes shadowed. Lips swollen from biting.

“Jesus.”

His phone buzzed. Unknown number.

He hesitated. Answered.

“Hello?”

“You walked a long way tonight.”

Noa’s blood iced.

“Alessio.”

“I like watching you.”

“You’re sick.”

“You say that like you didn’t want me at your door.”

“I didn’t.”

Silence.

Then”Liar.”

Noa hung up. Thru the phone across the couch.

“Fucking bastard.”

But his skin was tight. His breath was shallow.

Because Alessio was right.

He hadn’t locked the door again that night.

An hour later 

Another knock.

“Noa.”

“Go away!”

“I’m done playing.”

The door creaked.

Noa stared as the lock clicked open from the outside.

How ?

Alessio stepped in. Black shirt. No coat. Bare throat gleaming in the low light.

“What how the hell did you”

“Keys are easy to copy. Don’t leave them where anyone can take them.”

“Get. Out.”

“No.”

Alessio’s gaze raked over him.

“You’re shaking again.”

Noa backed up.

“I’m calling the police.”

“Do it. They’ll never get here fast enough.”

Goddammit.

Alessio moved closer.

“Why are you really here?” Noa demanded.

“I told you.”

“Bullshit.”

Alessio smiled.

“I can’t stop thinking about you.”

His fingers brushed Noa’s wrist again. Bare skin to bare skin.

Noa gasped. The touch was electric. Burning.

“Get off”

“You’re starving for this.”

Noa shoved him.

Alessio caught his wrist. Pulled him flush.

“Let go.”

“Look me in the eye and tell me you don’t want this.”

Noa tried.

Couldn’t.

Alessio’s breath fanned hot over his cheek.

“I feel everything when I’m near you,” he whispered. “Things I don’t feel for anyone else.”

“You can’t feel anything,” Noa said. “You’re a monster.”

“Maybe.”

His mouth brushed Noa’s jaw.

Noa shuddered.

“But I can feel this.”

His teeth scraped skin. Light. Testing.

Noa’s knees nearly buckled.

“Fuck.”

“Say stop,” Alessio murmured.

Noa opened his mouth.

Nothing came out.

“Say it,” Alessio whispered, voice shaking now.

Noa’s fingers curled in his shirt.

“I… hate you.”

“That’s not stop.”

Alessio pressed closer. His hand slid under Noa’s hoodie. Bare skin. Hot palm on his waist.

Noa’s breath broke.

“I want to ruin you,” Alessio whispered.

“Then do it,” Noa snapped before he could think.

Alessio’s mouth crashed down on him.

It wasn’t a kiss.

It was a war.

Teeth. Tongue. Heat.

Noa gasped into it, arching. His body betrayed him completely.

“Fuck, you taste better than I imagined,” Alessio groaned.

Noa moaned. Bit his lip.

Alessio caught his face in both hands.

“Mine,” he breathed. “You’re fucking mine.”

The words lit Noa up from the inside.

“I hate you,” he whispered again.

“Keep saying it.”

Alessio’s thigh pressed between his legs. Noa’s head tipped back with a cry.

“God, you’re beautiful when you fight me,” Alessio rasped.

Clothes shifted. Alessio’s mouth found his neck.

“You’re burning for me.”

“No.”

“Liar.”

Fingers skimmed lower. Skin on skin.

Noa grabbed his wrist.

“Stop.”

Finally, A real word.

Alessio froze.

Chest heaving.

“Look at me,” he said hoarsely.

Noa forced himself to meet those silver eyes.

“Say it again if you mean it. Stop.”

Noa’s lips trembled.

“Stop,” he whispered.

A muscle ticked in Alessio’s jaw.

“Fuck,” he bit out.

He stepped back. Hands shaking.

Noa sagged against the wall.

Alessio raked a hand through his hair.

“I told you” his voice broke. He swallowed. “I don’t know how to stop wanting you.”

“You have to.”

“I can’t.”

Alessio stared at him like he wanted to devour him.

“But I won’t force you.”

He turned.

“Not tonight.”

Noa’s legs barely held him up.

“If you come back”

“I will.”

Alessio smiled. Crooked. Too human. Too raw.

“You won’t survive me, Noa.”

“We’ll see.”

Alessio reached the door.

Paused.

“Next time don’t wear that hoodie. I want to see all of you.”

He left.

The door clicked shut.

Noa slid to the floor.

“What the fuck is happening to me,” he whispered  .

His phone buzzed 

A new message. Unknown number.

You’ll beg for me soon.

- A

Noa stared at it.

Chest tight.

Lips swollen.

Still aching where Alessio had touched him.

“God help me,” he breathed.