Page 44 of Stolen Compliance

I empty my bladder into Luca’s mouth. I want to look away but find I can’t. Because for every ounce of hatred, disgust, and sadness that enters his brown eyes, I find myself losing pieces to him. Parts I thought were lost or consumed by this life roar to the surface, and I am ensnared by them.

By the time I’m finished and pulling out of Luca’s mouth, I’m half-hard. It wouldn’t take much to get myself off, but I can’t. Not yet. Not with Dominic watching my every move. Not with Luca looking at me as if I broke him.

Oh, bunny…this isn’t even the start.

“Does he make a good urinal, Buttercup?” Dominic’s dark, silky voice breaks through my thoughts, and I huff a laugh.

“Better than I thought, but we’ll have to work on the teeth thing.”

Dominic snorts. “You’re bitey too, you fuck.”

I grin at him. “You like it.”

Dominic doesn’t respond to that, of course he doesn’t. Rather than letting it hurt me, I focus on Luca.

“You can go to your room now, bunny; you’re obviously fine.”

He sneers at me, and I hide how that look affects me, because while Dominic is right, I still want to care for him. As fucked as it is.

Luca carefully sits up, groaning as his ass touches the sheets. I have a pang of sympathy for him, knowing very well how it feels to be on that side of it. At least I helped him clean up a little.

“Can I borrow some clothes? You ruined mine.”

I snort. “You’ll be fine. You don’t have anything we’ve never seen before.”

He rolls his eyes and scoffs, but with impressive strength, he hauls himself to his feet. When he sways, I step forward and help steady him. Luca pulls back as if my touch burns, and I hate it, the distance growing between us when I finally feel as if we’re getting somewhere.

As he shuffles his way out of my room, despite my every instinct wanting him to stay, I wonder if his submission is real, or just a way to cope. Can he separate the job and what needs to happen from the soft, caring side? Keeping the two in different corners. Or are we doomed to share a similar fate? To tie our pleasure, our hearts, to the one who ruins us…

It’s been four days, and I’m still not over what happened. It took me far too long to admit it, but I’m one of the least flexible of Il Padrone’s Boys. My mind and body abhor being here. Interacting with Dominic and Teo. Pretending the way they acted didn’t stain my soul in ways that I thought were finally over. And Sergio… Fuck.

I take a deep breath of the cold air. The beach is closed now. Thankfully, it’s not snowing, although there’s plenty on the ground and ice on the big lake. I may be used to seeing the ocean occasionally, but that’s nothing compared to a freshwater lake that seems to stretch endlessly.

If anything, the power I see when I look out at it with the ice crusted waves is a reflection of the fucking shit I deal with over here. It’s beautiful to look at—but it hides the danger that exists. The lake doesn’t freeze over, but it stays churning, ready to take someone’s life who foolishly tests it.

Dominic and Teo… both of them are so fucking handsome it churns my stomach at times. And yet, I know the moment I get close… The moment I give into the magnetism I feel is when I’ll be tugged under the water, only to disappear in its icy embrace forever.

I shake my head, unable to think about it more. Not when it hurts my stomach so damn much. Because even though the wounds are finally closing and the acrid taste of urine has finally disappeared, the memories stay with me. Taunting me. Reminding me that nothing is safe here.

Taking out my phone, I call Il Padrone to check in. It’s a pain in the ass, having to wait for these stolen moments of solitude, and even then not trusting that we’re not being overheard. It’s not like Sergio wouldn’t expect me to keep in contact with my Boss, but caution is needed in this shadowy game of life and death.

“Hello.” Il Padrone’s rough voice carries easily over the phone connection, despite the wind around me. I shudder at the sound of him, the feeling of home embedded deep inside me.

“Padrone,” I say respectfully. “I’m checking in per usual.”

That’s right, fuckers… nothing to see here.

I can hear him grunt on the other side of the phone and barely make out a whisper of Emilio’s name. A blush steals across my face, and I try to convince myself it’s merely from the cold wind blowing my way. The lies I tell myself… Even as my heart sinks lower.

“I’m back,” Padrone states briskly, and I keep my eyes trained to the landscape before me. “Catch me up, Luca.”

“Things are progressing here. I’ve certainly learned a great deal that I think I can implement. But I did overstep and was punished for it.”

Allesandro inhales sharply before cursing. It takes a moment before he responds in a flat voice, “What happened? Are you still in a position to stay?”

“I overstepped during negotiation. I’m fine. There was no permanent damage to me,” I respond, even as the memories of what happened taunt me. “I believe it’s still in our best interest if I stay.”

It’s hard to hear over the crashing sounds around me, but I can just barely make out the impatient tap of Il Padrone’s fingers. I don’t rush him, knowing he is considering all angles, deciding if it’s truly safe for me to stay.