Chapter 17 ۵ Bruises

YARA'S POV

The heavy thud of Alejandro's footsteps reverberated through the house, each step a cruel reminder of what was coming. The air was thick with tension, saturated with the scent of vodka and rage. I could hear him downstairs, smashing things, probably more bottles, his muttered curses growing louder by the second. He was drunk, but not the sloppy, sluggish kind of drunk. No. Alejandro was the dangerous kind.

I quickly ran to Elena's room to make sure she was sleeping and she was thankfully.

I tried to steady my breath, sitting on the edge of the bed we had to share, hands gripping the bedsheets tightly. My body was tense, coiled like a spring, bracing for the inevitable. The dull throb in my stomach from the last time was a constant reminder of how quickly he could shift from charm to violence.

The door slammed open so hard it shook the walls. There he was, Alejandro, in all his fury. His shirt was unbuttoned, revealing the tattoos that snaked down his chest, the muscles that tensed with barely restrained anger. His eyes, bloodshot and wild, locked onto me with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.

"You think you can just fucking ignore me?" he spat, slurring his words but still sharp with venom. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, his knuckles white. "You think I don't see what you're doing, Yara? Hiding up here like you're better than me?"

"I wasn't hiding," I replied quietly, trying to keep my voice calm, even though fear crawled up my throat. "I didn't want to fight with you"

"Fight?" He laughed, dark and humorless, stepping closer. "Oh, you think this is a fight?" His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. "I'll show you a fight Yara"

Before I could react, he lunged forward, grabbing my arm and yanking me off the bed so hard my feet barely touched the ground. His grip was tight, bruising, and I gasped, struggling to pull free, but his hand only tightened around me.

"Let go of me!" I hissed, trying to wrench myself out of his grip.

But Alejandro just grinned, his lips pulling into something twisted, something dark. "Fuck no" he growled, his breath hot against my face. He leaned in closer, so close I could see the madness flickering in his eyes, the dangerous glint that I had come to fear.

"You forget who you belong to."

"I don't belong to anyone" I shot back, my voice trembling but defiant. My chest tightened, and I knew I shouldn't push him, but something inside me, something reckless and angry, couldn't stop. "Especially not you."

His face twisted, and before I knew it, his hand was on my throat, pushing me back until my spine hit the wall. The impact sent a jolt of pain up my back, and I gasped for air as his fingers dug into my neck.

"You don't belong to anyone?" he repeated, his voice low and dangerous, his eyes boring into mine. "Is that what you think?"

I tried to pull his hand away, clawing at his wrist, but it was useless. He was too strong, too enraged. His other hand came up, pressing harder against my throat, cutting off my air. The room began to spin, and my vision blurred at the edges.

"Look at you now," he snarled. "Pathetic. You think you can talk back to me? You think you can get away with disrespecting me, with running your mouth like some stupid little girl?"

I kicked out, my foot connecting with his shin, but he barely flinched. Instead, it only seemed to fuel his anger. His fingers tightened, and I choked, gasping for breath as my head began to swim.

"You need to learn your place, Yara," he said through gritted teeth, his voice low and dangerous. "You need to understand that I own you. Every fucking inch of you."

He yanked me forward by my throat, throwing me onto the bed with a force that knocked the wind out of me. I scrambled to get up, but he was on me in seconds, pinning me down, his hands grabbing my wrists and slamming them above my head.

"Let's see if you still think you don't belong to me after this" he whispered, his lips brushing against my ear, sending a chill down my spine.

I thrashed underneath him, trying to buck him off, but he was too heavy, too strong. His breath was hot and erratic, his grip on my wrists tightening painfully. I could feel the full weight of his fury pressing down on me, suffocating me.

"You can scream if you want" he taunted, his voice dripping with malicious amusement. "No one's coming"

I didn't scream. I wouldn't give him that satisfaction. But inside, panic was spreading like wildfire. He leaned in closer, his mouth grazing my neck, and I felt sick, sick with fear, sick with the helplessness that clawed at me.

"You think you can just walk around like you're untouchable" he murmured, his breath hot and heavy against my skin. "But you're mine. I can touch you whenever I want. I can do whatever I want" tears were quietly falling down my face.

His hand left my wrist, and for a moment, I thought I had a chance, just a split second where I could shove him off and make a run for it. But that hope was shattered when his hand slapped across my face, hard, making my vision blur with hot pain.

"You'll never be more than what I make you" he snarled, grabbing my face roughly, forcing me to look at him. "You exist because I allow it. Remember that."

I turned my head away, refusing to meet his gaze, but he jerked my chin back toward him, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction at the pure mess I was in.

"You're not going anywhere, Yara," he said, his voice soft but laced with poison. "You belong to me. And I'll make sure you never forget that."

His thumb came up to aggressively wipe the never ending flow of tears.

"You think you're tough?" he sneered, his eyes gleaming with a twisted sense of power. "You think you can just run away? You have no idea how easy it is to break someone like you."

With that, he shifted his weight, his knee pressing into my thigh, anchoring me to the bed. I gasped at the pressure, feeling the burn of the fabric digging into my skin as I struggled against him.

"Get off me!" I screamed, my voice breaking, but he merely laughed, the sound harsh and mocking.

"Look at you," he said, his tone dripping with condescension. "So cute when you think you have a chance"

"You're wrong," I managed to spit out, my voice steadying, fueled by a flicker of defiance. "I'm not weak. I'm not your plaything."

His laughter rang out, a harsh bark that filled the room. "Not weak?" He shoved his face closer, his anger radiating off him in waves. "Let's see how long that bravado lasts."

Suddenly, he grabbed my hair, yanking my head back until I cried out in pain. The sharp pull sent a shock of agony coursing through my scalp, but the real hurt came from the realization of his complete control over me.

"You're going to learn," he hissed, eyes blazing with a twisted satisfaction. Then in one swift motion his hand glided down my stomach, sending a shiver through me.

He released my hair, his fingers trailing down my neck, and I shivered at his touch, repulsed yet unable to escape the reality of our twisted dance. I twisted my wrists, trying to free myself, but he merely laughed again, the sound dark and foreboding.

"You think struggling will change anything? You're just making it worse for yourself." He shifted his grip, pinning my hands tighter against the bed, and I winced, biting my lip to keep from crying out. He then dipped down to my neck, unexpectedly leaving trails of rough kisses on my neck. But they weren't nice they were painful, aggressive. His lips left a burning path as he kissed all the way to the hollow of my throat. I was sure all of these kisses were going to leave a mark. I knew that was his intent, to leave his mark on me so that I would know that he owns me.

"Please, Alejandro" I pleaded, desperation creeping into my voice. "Just let me go.....you're hurting me" my words fell on deaf ears as his grip released from my wrists and moved down to my shirt. His deathly eyes made contact with my pleading ones. He had no hint of mercy lingering in his orbs. I could feel his touch linger on the hem of my shirt. I knew what was going to happen and I wasn't ready "p-please don't.....please" I sobbed out. My whimpers ferns unheard as he slipped off my shirt in one clean swipe leaving me in my bra. I felt exposed and I took this as a chance to use the last bit of strength I had to use my bruised arms to cover myself.

"Move your bloody arms Yara" he spoke in a dark tone. I just shook my head repeating the word please hoping his state of fury would soon fade.

When I didn't follow his instructions he yanked my arms, pinning them over my head and with the other hand he reached under my body, unclasping my bra.

"Alejandro.............." I cried out, kicking and fidgeting, trying to get him away from her. In reality I was just wasting my energy. Panic ran through my eyes when I heard the last clip release. He looked into my eyes, lust taking over his mind. Without a second thought he ripped the bra off me leaving my top half completely exposed. He didn't even think twice before moving his lips down to my cleavage, taking my nipples in his mouth, painfully biting them. I just wanted this to end.

"You thought I wouldn't hurt you?" he mumbled against my skin, his voice low, almost a growl. "You have no idea what I'm capable of, Yara" suddenly his hand slipped down my body, he unzipped my jeans and without a second thought he found his way to my heat. His hand moving over my underwear, a dark breathless chuckle left his mouth.

"You're so wet. Does me hurting you turn you on? Hm?" He mocked.

"Please stop" I croaked out, my voice was all raspy now. But I knew he wasn't ready to stop, his fingers slipped under my panty, there was now skin to skin contact. I stopped fighting against him a long time ago, there wasn't even a single spot of energy left in my body. Then suddenly his phone rang. He let go of my wrists picking up the phone. I took this as a chance to run. Putting on my shirt and zipping up my jeans whilst he talked to whoever was on the other end.

I unlocked the door and practically sprinted downstairs, looking for anywhere to go. I could hear his footsteps "Yara" he called, his tone venomous, sending chills down my body. I ran do the furthest end on the mansion. It was pointless though because I knew he'd catch up, I hid underneath a desk. Trying to calm myself down.

The fear in me escalated when I heard the sound of the door slam open.

"I know you're here Yara. Don't make me look for you"

"I'll go easier on you if you come out now" he spoke, I didn't know whether or not to believe him a few minutes went by and I made my way out from under the desk. My body shaking in fear.

He was leaning against the wall "smart choice Yara" he said walking towards me. "But you shouldn't have ran away. Now I'll have to punish you" my eyebrows furrowed in fear when he yanked me closer to him, I didn't know what to do to make him stop so I wrapped my my arms around his torso, resting my head on his chest. I could tell he was confused as to why I was hugging him.

"What are you doing?"

"Don't punish me please Alejandro....i'm sorry" it took a few minutes for him to respond to anything but eventually he wrapped his arms around me, caressing my hair.

I was scared of his embrace but for some reason I felt so comfortable in it, my tears almost instantly stopped "I won't" he mumbled next to my ear. I guess hugging him had worked after all.

AUTHOR'S POV

Yara's body was still trembling, every nerve on edge as Alejandro's arms tightened around her. His rough caress felt wrong, but in that moment, it was all that kept his wrath at bay. The adrenaline still surged through her veins, her pulse racing like a trapped bird. She kept her face buried in his chest, hiding the fear twisting inside her. This was survival. She had learned the hard way that resisting only led to more pain.

Alejandro's breath slowed as he held her, his fingers tracing absentminded patterns along her back. The violent fury that had gripped him moments ago seemed to have faded, replaced with something that almost resembled calm. But Yara knew better. It was always like this. The storm would pass, but it was never truly gone.

"You're a good girl when you listen" he muttered against her hair, his voice thick with the lingering effects of alcohol. The scent of vodka clung to him. He pulled away slightly, tilting her chin up so their eyes met. His gaze was still hard, though less wild now, the beast momentarily sated.

Yara nodded mechanically, forcing herself to hold his stare. The words she wanted to say, the ones screaming inside her head, remained trapped behind clenched teeth. If she let even one escape, the fragile peace would shatter, and she couldn't afford that. Not tonight.

"Why do you make me do this, Yara?" His tone had softened, almost as if he believed his own lie "If you'd just stop fighting me, things wouldn't have to be so........rough"

A bitter taste filled her mouth, but she swallowed it down, knowing better than to respond. He was waiting for something, an apology, maybe, or a promise to be better, to submit. But she wouldn't give him the satisfaction, not after what he'd just done.

She felt a flicker of defiance rise in her chest, but she smothered it quickly. Alejandro was unpredictable, and she couldn't risk setting him off again.

"I'll try" she whispered instead, barely able to make her voice steady "I'll try to be better"

A cruel smile tugged at the corner of his lips, and for a moment, his grip on her chin tightened, his fingers digging into her skin "Good" he said, his voice cold "You know what happens if you don't amor"

He released her abruptly, stepping back as if the conversation was over, as if the bruises blooming on her body and the pain that throbbed in her throat were nothing more than a fleeting inconvenience. He glanced at his phone, the screen glowing in the dim light of the room, then back at her.

"I have business" he said flatly, turning toward the door "Go to bed" Yara watched him leave, her body sagging with relief as soon as the door clicked shut behind him. She didn't move for a long time, trying to process everything her professor had just done to her. The silence in the room felt oppressive, suffocating, but at least it was better than his presence.

When she finally dared to move, it was slow, deliberate. She made her way to the bathroom, locking the door behind her. The mirror reflected back a version of herself she barely recognized. Her hair was a mess, her eyes red and swollen from crying. Mascara streaming down her face. Her lip was split from where he had hit her, and dark bruises were already forming on her neck and arms.

She turned the faucet on, the sound of running water doing little to calm her nerves. Her hands trembled as she splashed cold water on her face, trying to wash away the feel of his touch, the weight of his words. But no matter how hard she scrubbed, it lingered.

Yara looked down at her shaking hands, feeling a swell of nausea rise in her throat. How much longer could she keep this up? How much more could she endure before she broke completely?

She had to find a way out.

She dried her face, staring at her reflection one last time before turning away. There was no point in lingering on what she couldn't change. She couldn't afford to think about escape, not yet. Not while Alejandro was still watching, waiting for her to slip up.

Quietly, she crept back into the bedroom, her mind racing even as her body ached. The room felt colder, emptier without him in it. She lay down on the bed, curling into herself as she stared at the door. The bruises throbbed with every beat of her heart, but she forced herself to stay still, to breathe slowly and deeply, hoping for sleep that wouldn't come. The night dragged on, and the shadows grew long. Yara lay in the dark, her thoughts a chaotic swirl of fear and desperation. Alejandro's cruelty had broken her.

A/n

Getting spicierrrr