Four eyes locked onto each other over the broad shoulders of Dominic.
The corners of Miles's lips curled up into a smile that was both desolate and profoundly malicious. He accentuated every single word, the sound hissing through his gritted teeth: "Do you honestly think you have won just because you managed to climb into his bed? Lucien... you just wait and see."
Having said his piece, Miles spun around abruptly, carrying an overwhelming aura of jealousy and sky-high hatred as he strode right out of the room.
Slam!
The door was violently slammed shut once again, the residual tremors causing even the picture frames hanging on the walls to shudder.
The spacious bedroom was once again restored to a state of absolute tranquility. Dominic stood perfectly still for a beat, his heavy breathing slowly returning to a steady rhythm. He turned his body around, lowering his gaze to look down at the young man who was still tightly clutching the hem of his shirt.
Lucien kept his head bowed low, burying half of his face into his knees. His fragile and slender shoulders trembled incessantly, as if he still had not recovered his senses from the terrifying threat just moments ago. He let out a soft sniffle as a single scalding tear silently fell onto the silk blanket, appearing weak, utterly pathetic, and harmless to the extreme.
Seeing this sight, a wave of gloomy vexation unconsciously welled up within Dominic's heart, yet intertwined within that feeling was a bizarre sense of deep satisfaction. He reached out a hand, threading his fingers through the soft hair of Lucien, gently stroking and comforting him.
However, in that hidden corner, completely concealed by the dark shadows where absolutely no one could see...
The lips of Lucien, currently flushed red from being bitten harshly, slowly, little by little, curled upward to form a smile that was chillingly indifferent, deeply mocking, and supremely arrogant.
Bring it on, I am waiting right here.
Lucien remained curled up into a tight ball, hiding half of his face within his knees, flawlessly playing the role of a tiny, frightened beast that had just been terrified out of its wits. However, completely contrary to the outward display of vulnerability, Lucien's brain was operating with extreme lucidity and crystal-clear alertness.
He could acutely feel the gaze of the man securely pinned right upon the top of his head. It was no longer the fiery look of pure, unadulterated lust, nor was it his usual cold and arrogant indifference, but rather a profound contemplation that carried a heavily evaluative and extremely possessive nature.
Dominic stood tall and imposing by the edge of the bed, his Adam's apple bobbing slightly. In his mind at this very moment, there was only one single, biting thought circling relentlessly: He dared to threaten my person?
What the hell did Miles think he was? On what qualifications did Miles have the right to step in here, hurling insults and attempting to lay his hands on the person currently lying in Dominic's bed?
The raging fury from moments ago had not yet dissipated; instead, it had now transformed into an incredibly fierce, instinctual urge to protect his territory. Dominic suddenly bent down, bracing one hand against the mattress, while his other hand decisively slipped beneath the blanket, grasping the slender arm of Lucien and forcefully pulling the young man directly into his embrace.
"Ah..." Lucien let out a soft, startled cry, his body losing its balance and tumbling completely into the firm, scorching-hot chest of the man.
Dominic held him tightly, pressing that trembling body firmly against his own frame, resting his chin atop Lucien's head. The steady rising and falling of Dominic's chest transmitted an overwhelming sensation of absolute security.
"What are you afraid of?" Dominic's voice was exceptionally low and deep, resonating intimately right against Lucien's ear: "With me being here, who would dare to lay a finger on you?"
Lucien's heart skipped a subtle beat. That was right, the possessiveness had already begun to take root.
The searingly hot breath of Dominic cascaded across the pale, unblemished neck of Lucien. His eyes darkened precipitously upon seeing the myriad of glaringly bright, purplish-red marks left behind by the suction of his own mouth upon that delicate, fragile skin. As if guided by some invisible demonic force, the calloused fingers of Dominic slowly and gently rubbed against the darkest hickey situated right at the hollow of Lucien's collarbone.
The rough sensation of friction against the highly sensitive flesh caused Lucien to involuntarily shiver, a choked, muffled moan softly escaping his lips. "Mmn... it hurts..."
Just that single, wet whimper alone was more than enough to fiercely reignite the raging fire of lust that had only recently been extinguished within the man's body. The atmosphere, which was originally tense and stiff from the explosive argument, suddenly reversed its course, turning scorchingly hot and dripping with an ambiguously erotic tension.
Dominic lowered his head, opening his mouth to envelop that exact bright red mark, using his canines to lightly bite down on it before sucking deeply. He intentionally wanted to overlay it with a brand new mark, one that was deeper and infinitely darker, serving as the most ruthless method of declaring his absolute sovereignty.
"Remember this well." Dominic parted his lips, lightly licking the brightly flushed earlobe of Lucien, his voice unbearably hoarse and deeply evocative: "On your body, from this moment onwards, you are only permitted to bear the marks made by me, Dominic."
Lucien kept his eyes half-closed, his chest heaving violently. He knew perfectly well that this was the most ideal, flawless moment to push the proverbial scale completely in his own favor.
Instead of continuing to shrink back and tremble like he did just moments ago, Lucien slowly opened his eyes. His two small, pale hands carefully reached out, hesitating for a fleeting second before obediently wrapping themselves around the firm, muscular waist of Dominic. He pressed his forehead into the crook of the man's shoulder, rubbing lightly against it like a tiny, affectionate kitten trying to curry favor with its master, his incredibly thin, fragile voice rising to carry an extreme sense of being deeply wronged.
"Dominic... please do not be angry with him..." Lucien choked out amidst soft sobs, his fingers digging tightly into the fabric of the man's shirt: "After all... he is still the person that the families arranged for you... I am just an unwanted bastard child that nobody cares about. I do not want you to offend Miles because of me and ruin the grand, important alliance between the two families..."
This tactic of retreating in order to advance, utilizing the most humble and submissive tolerance to sharply highlight the sheer unreasonableness of the enemy, was occasionally highly favored by these dominant men who were far too accustomed to being in absolute control.
Sure enough, Dominic furrowed his brows in deep dissatisfaction, directly reaching out a hand to lightly pinch the chin of Lucien, forcefully compelling him to lift his face and look right at him.