What Elian saw was a big tray of burgers.
Different kinds of burger; cheeseburgers, bacon burgers, chicken burgers, some with eggs, some with extra patties, filled the tray to the brim. The tray was literally overflowing with them, and steam was still rising from the warm buns.
Elian couldn't believe it was possible to have these kinds of burgers altogether, In prison and at this hour... The sun was just rising.
He wiped his face again with his palm, convinced he was hallucating from hunger and exhaustion.
But the burgers were still there. As if trying to clear his doubt, the smell hit him then, making his mouth water instantly and his stomach cramp with desperate need.
Alessio stood above him, holding the tray, a smirk playing on his lips as he watched Elian's surprised expression.
"Well? Are you just going to stare at it or actually eat?" Alessio asked, his voice carrying that familiar arrogance.
Elian's eyes snapped up to meet his. "What... what is this?" He asked, definitely not knowing how to firstly react or the right thing to say in this situation.
"What does it look like?" Alessio scoffed then set the tray down on the small desk nearby.
"For me?" Elian asked slowly, suspicion creeping into his voice even as his stomach growled loudly in response to the food.
Alessio rolled his eyes as he replied him; "No, for the ghost in the corner."
Elian didn't move. He just sat there on the floor, staring at the tray, then at Alessio, then back at the tray. And his thoughts spiraled;
This had to be a trick. Some kind of game. Maybe the food was poisoned. Maybe Alessio was going to watch him eat and die. Maybe---
"Eat to your satisfaction," Alessio interrupted his spiraling thoughts. He walked over to his bed and sat down, leaning back against the headboard.
"You need to be able to work well today. I can't have my maid starving and collapsing on me." He paused, then added with that infuriating smirk;
"Besides, there is something I want to do later. You will need your energy for it."
Elian's brows furrowed and his brain told him that of course this was why Alessio was feeding him. Not out of kindness, but because he had plans. Plans that probably involved Elian doing something he didn't want to do.
But his hunger was stronger than his fear right now.
Slowly, carefully, Elian got up from the floor. His legs protested, stiff from sleeping curled up on the hard ground. He walked to the desk, eyeing the burgers warily.
He picked up one burger then he glanced at Alessio, who was watching him intently.
"Eat," Alessio commanded softly.
Elian inhaled and exhaled deeply as if he was preparing for a terrifying, hard task then he bit into the burger.
And when he chewed and swallowed, he couldn't stop the small sound of pleasure that escaped his throat, despite himself. It was delicious. Perfectly cooked; the cheese melted just right, the bun soft and fresh.
He devoured it in seconds, then immediately grabbed another one. This time a bacon burger.
Alessio watched him the entire time, his dark eyes never leaving Elian's face. There was something predatory about the way he stared, something that made Elian's skin prickle with awareness.
However, Elian ate ravenously, working through burger after burger. Grease dripped down his fingers and he brought them to his mouth, licking them clean between bites.
"Fuck," Alessio muttered under his breath, so quietly Elian almost didn't hear it.
Elian paused and looked at him. Alessio's expression had changed. His eyes were darker now, fixed on Elian's mouth with an intensity that made Elian's breath catch.
"What?" Elian asked with a furrowed brows.
"Nothing. Keep eating." Alessio replied, his voice now coming out rougher than before.
A clueless Elian went back to his food, but he was hyperaware now of Alessio's gaze. The way those eyes tracked every movement of his lips, every time his tongue darted out to catch sauce, every time he swallowed.
After his fifth burger, Elian's desperate hunger finally began to ease. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand.
"More," Alessio said quietly. "I want you full."
There was something in his tone that made Elian's pulse quicken. It was sounding like a command missed with the promise of... Naughtiness.
Elian forced down two more burgers, his movements slower now. Finally, he couldn't eat another bite.
"I'm done," he announced.
"Good." Alessio said then stood up from the bed in one smooth motion, his tall frame suddenly dominating the small space.
"Now come here."
Elian's body tensed. "Why?"
"Because I told you to." Alessio's voice was calm but left no room for argument. "Come stand in front of me."
Every instinct screamed at Elian to refuse, but where would he go? The door was locked. The cell was small so technically, there was nowhere to run.
Reluctantly, Elian walked over to where Alessio stood. He stopped a few feet away.
"Closer," Alessio ordered.
Elian took one step forward.
"Closer."
Another step. Now they were barely a foot apart. Elian had to tilt his head back to look at Alessio's face.
"That's better," Alessio murmured. Then, without warning, his hands went to the hem of his singlet.
Elian's eyes widened. "What are you---"
Alessio pulled the singlet off in one smooth motion, revealing his toned chest and the intricate tattoos that covered his skin. Ink swirled across his pecs, down his abs, disappearing into the waistband of his pants.
Then his hands moved to that waistband.
"Don't you dare touch me," Elian said sharply, taking a step back.
A low, dark laugh that was far too amused escaped Alessio's throat at that.
"Touch you?" He repeated and shook his head. Afterwards, He popped the button of his pants. "Oh no, pretty maid. I have no intention of touching you."
Then his fingers hooked into his waistband and he pushed his pants down deliberately slow as he continued;
"I'd rather make you crave me first." He announced.
"I won't---" Elian started, but the words died in his throat as Alessio's pants hit the floor. He wasn't wearing anything underneath.
Elian's eyes opened widely.
"What the heck are you up to?" Elian wanted to yell the question but it came out a bit softer, sounding slightly shaky.