Chapter 4 closer

Noa couldn't sleep.

Couldn't think.

The words burned on the screen:

You'll beg for me soon.

"Fuck you," he hissed, throat tight.

Fingers shaking, he deleted the message. Blocked the number. Thrown the phone facedown on the nightstand so hard it bounced.

Didn't help.

Not even close.

His body was still on fire. Every inch of skin thrumming, remembering. Remembering the heat of Alessio's mouth, the sharp scrape of teeth, the unforgiving grip on his wrists, the whispered filth against his ear. The way he'd been undone and left aching.

"Get out of my fucking head."

But the ache didn't go away.

It had its claws in him now.

He locked himself inside for two days.

Curtains drawn. Phone off. World shut out.

Didn't eat. Barely drank.

Every time he closed his eyes worse.

Dreams, twisted and vivid. Alessio's hands pinning his wrists above his head. A mouth against his throat, dragging teeth down his skin. Tongue tasting him like a claim.

He'd wake up gasping. Hard. Sheets tangled, hips grinding uselessly against the mattress.

"Goddammit!" The sound ripped out of him.

He stumbled to the shower. Cold water at first.

Didn't help.

In the end, he cursed and wrapped his fist around himself, panting. Harsh, angry strokes.

Just to take the edge off.

Just so he could breathe.

But when he came, it wasn't his own face he pictured.

It was his.

Alessio.

Noa bit down on his lip to keep from crying out.

Even then he hated himself.

By the third day, a knock came.

Hard. Controlled.

Noa froze.

That voice followed, low and velvet:

"Noa."

His breath hitched. No. No, no

"Go away!" he barked, voice rough with exhaustion and something else. Desperation.

"You need air," the voice coaxed. "You need to move."

"Fuck off!"

The words felt brittle in his throat.

A beat.

"You need me, Noa."

A whisper now. Dangerous silk.

"The hell I do!" His nails dug into the drywall beside him.

"Then open the door. Tell me to my face."

The invitation was a dare. It curled through the air like smoke.

Noa pressed his forehead to the wall. His body trembled with want and rage.

"You'll come crawling if you don't," Alessio murmured. "I'm just giving you an easier option."

Noa bit down hard on his knuckles. Silence.

A pause. Then "I'll be waiting."

The footsteps retreated, deliberate.

Noa sank to the floor, breath catching in his throat.

"Jesus Christ," he whispered.

Hours passed.

Long, restless hours.

He stalked around the apartment, restless and wild.

"You're stronger than this," he muttered to himself.

Liar.

Because by sunset he was dressed.

Hoodie gone. Black shirt. Fitted jeans hugging lean hips. Boots on. Hair pushed back.

As if he were going somewhere.

As if he wanted to be seen.

"Goddammit, you're sick."

But when his hand hit the door handle, there was no stopping his legs.

The car was already waiting.

Alessio in the driver's seat. Window down.

A shark's smile playing on those wicked lips.

"You didn't disappoint."

"I'm not here for you," Noa said flatly. His heart was hammering.

"Liar."

Noa swallowed hard. Throat dry.

"One drink," he forced out. "Then I leave."

"You'll stay as long as I want you to."

The words shouldn't have sent a pulse of heat through him. But they did.

Noa slid into the passenger seat.

The club tonight was different.

No shadowed corridors. No smoke-choked back rooms.

A rooftop bar, high above the city. Open air. Lights glittering across the skyline like stars.

It was too beautiful. Too exposed.

"You're changing the game," Noa said, voice tight.

"I'm evolving," Alessio replied smoothly.

His gaze flicked over Noa like a brand. Pure hunger.

They sat. A waitress appeared without being summoned. Two glasses of whiskey set down. Neat.

Not a word exchanged.

Noa gripped the glass like an anchor.

Minutes ticked by in charged silence. Every nerve in his body was wired.

Finally he couldn't stand it.

"Why me?" he asked, voice low.

"You fight me."

"That's it?" he snapped.

"No." Alessio leaned in, voice dropping. "You make me feel. I don't feel it. Not ever. But with you I'm alive."

Noa's breath caught.

For a second, the noise of the city seemed to fade.

"You're insane," he whispered.

"Maybe. But I'm yours."

"I didn't ask for that."

"Doesn't matter."

The tension between them coiled tighter than steel cable.

Noa lifted the glass to his lips. His hand trembled.

"You keep saying you want me," he said hoarsely. "You don't know how to love."

"I know how to want."

Alessio's knee brushed him beneath the table. Deliberate.

A jolt of electricity shot through Noa's blood.

"And I know you want me too."

Noa drained the whiskey in a desperate gulp.

"Stop this."

Alessio's gaze burned. "Say stop to my face."

Then he reached out. Fingers curling around Noa's wrist. Skin to skin.

Noa gasped softly. A traitorous shiver ran through him.

"Say it," Alessio breathed.

No words came.

Alessio stood.

Fluid. Predatory.

"Come."

"Where" Noa started.

"Trust me."

Noa didn't trust him.

And yet he followed.

The suite upstairs was pure sin.

Low lights. Black sheets. Mirrors gleaming.

A room designed to consume.

Noa's heart pounded.

"You brought me here to fuck me?" he asked harshly.

"No." Alessio's smile was dark. Slow. "To give you a choice."

Noa's instincts screamed.

He backed toward the door.

Alessio blocked him, body closed .

"Do you want me to touch you again?"

Noa's lips parted. No sound emerged.

"Because I will. Unless you tell me no. Right now."

"Alessio" His voice was raw.

"Say no, Noa."

A velvet command.

Noa couldn't breathe. Couldn't move.

"I..."

Alessio's fingers slid into his hair.

Gentle. Possessive.

"Last chance."

Noa's fists clenched at his sides.

"I hate you."

"Say stop."

"I... can't."

And then Alessio kissed him.

Not rough this time.

Slow. Deep. Consuming.

Noa whimpered. His body betrayed him, arching into the touch.

"Fuck" the curse tore from his throat.

Alessio's hands mapped his waist. Slide under the shirt. Skin to skin, blazing.

Noa moaned into his mouth.

"You feel this," Alessio whispered darkly.

"Yes fuck you bastard"

Alessio smiled. Bit the side of his throat.

"You're mine now."

Noa clawed at his back. Desperate.

"God help me."

"You don't want saving," Alessio chuckled softly.

Noa's jeans were too tight. His breath came ragged, panting against Alessio's mouth.

"Touch me," he gasped before thought could stop him.

Alessio pinned him to the wall. One hand sliding lower.

"Beg."

Noa's hips bucked helplessly.

"Fuck please " The plea broke from him like a sob.

Alessio's grin was wicked.

"Good boy."

His palm cupped him through the denim. Noa cried out.

"So hot for me already."

Noa's hips jerked again. His vision swam.

"Please Alessio " His voice was wrecked.

Alessio leaned close, mouth ghosting over his ear.

"Say it again."

"Please fuck "

A sharp nip to his earlobe.

"Next time" Alessio promised, voice a purr, "I'll make you scream it."

Abruptly he stepped back.

Noa nearly collapsed, legs trembling.

"Why did you stop?" he gasped, wrecked.

"I'm not done playing yet."

Alessio kissed him once more.

Slow. Cruel.

"Next time, Noa."

He turned. Left him breathless. Shaking.

Noa slid to the floor.

Hands fisted in his hair.

"Fuck."

His phone buzzed.

Another message.

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

A~

Noa stared at the screen.

His heart slammed in his chest.

His body ached.

And he had no idea which choice terrified him more.