Chapter 24: CHAPTER 21: DESERVING

Adolph

I couldn’t stay away.

The sound of her voice, the fire in her eyes, the way her presence filled the space—it was magnetic. I left the room only moments ago, but the pull to return was unbearable.

As I step back into her room, she’s still perched on the edge of the bed, her posture stiff, her expression a mixture of defiance and unease. Her wrists are still bound, the cuffs glinting under the golden light of the chandeliers. She looks up as I enter, and I can feel the weight of her glare.

“You forgot something,” I say, my voice low and smooth, as I approach her.

Her eyes narrow, her lips pressing into a tight line. “Don’t pretend you care about my comfort,” she snaps, but there’s a crack in her voice, a small tremor that betrays her resolve.

I kneel in front of her again, just as I did earlier, my hands reaching for the cuffs. “You assume too much, mi reina.” My voice is soft, but there’s a dark edge to it. “I care. I care about you enough to make you hate me for it.”

She doesn’t reply, her eyes darting to my hands as I unlock the cuffs. The metal clicks open, and I catch her wrists, gently running my thumbs over the red marks left behind. “Such delicate wrists,” I murmur, my tone teasing. “It almost makes me feel guilty.”

Her breath catches, but she quickly pulls her hands away, cradling them against her chest. “You don’t feel guilt,” she mutters, her voice laced with bitterness.

I lean closer, my face mere inches from hers, my lips curling into a smirk. “No, I don’t. But for you, I might make an exception.”

Especially for you,I won't

Her cheeks flush, and I chuckle softly, brushing a strand of her hair behind her ear. “You’re so easy to rile up, bella mia. I wonder what else I can do to make your pulse race.”

“Why are you doing this?” she whispers, her voice shaking.

I tilt my head, studying her. “Because I can. Because you make it so easy. And because I enjoy watching you fight the truth.”

“What truth?”

“That you’re mine,” I murmur, my voice dropping lower, each word deliberate. “And the sooner you accept it, the easier it’ll be for both of us.”

That you're mine to break

I stand, stepping back, satisfied by the confusion and anger flickering across her face. “Rest, mi reina. You’ll need it.” I flash her a dark smile before turning on my heel and leaving the room.

❤️

Back in my own room, I find solace in the quiet. The grand piano sits by the window, its polished ebony surface gleaming under the soft glow of the chandelier. It’s been years since I’ve played, but tonight, I feel compelled.

My fingers glide over the keys, the familiar melody flowing effortlessly. The notes echo through the room, filling the silence with a haunting, melancholic tune. It’s a song from a simpler time, a piece I used to play for her when we were children.

As the music swells, I hear a soft creak from the hallway. I don’t stop playing, but I know she’s there. Her footsteps are quiet, hesitant, but I can feel her presence as she lingers just beyond the door.

The melody shifts, growing softer, more intimate, as if calling her closer.

“Do you remember this, Neti?” I say, my voice breaking the spell of the music. I don’t look up, my fingers still dancing across the keys. “I used to play this for you, back when you’d sit by my side and beg me to teach you.”

There’s a pause, and then her voice drifts through the doorway, barely above a whisper. “You still remember it?”

I let out a soft laugh, the sound laced with something unspoken. “I remember everything.”

The final note lingers in the air, and for a moment, there’s silence. Then, I turn on the bench, my eyes locking onto hers as she stands in the doorway.

“Careful, mi princesa,” I say, my voice soft but teasing. “If you keep looking at me like that, I might think you don’t hate me as much as you claim.”

Her lips part, but no words come out. I stand, the piano bench scraping against the floor, and take a step toward her. “What’s the matter? Cat got your tongue?”

She shakes her head, taking a step back. “You’re insufferable,” she mutters, but her voice lacks its usual fire.

I chuckle, closing the distance between us. “And you, bella mia, are irresistible.”

The more the distraction,the more she'll break

Piece by piece

She'll fall

Like she deserves...

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