Page 8 of The Brat's Bargain

"And what if I refuse?" he asked, chin lifted in defiance. "What if I tell you to take your rules and shove them up your perfectly sculpted ass?"

In an instant, Damien was on him. One large hand wrapped around Antonio's throat, not squeezing but a clear threat. The other gripped his hip, fingers digging in hard enough to bruise.

"Then I remind you of our deal," Damien growled, his face inches from Antonio's. "I remind you that without me, you'd be rotting in Rizzo's warehouse or explaining to Mommy dearest why you owe a hundred grand to some very bad men. I remind you that you're only here, only safe, because I allow it."

His grip tightened, just enough to make Antonio's breath hitch. "And then I punish you, pet. Thoroughly and creatively, until you're begging me for forgiveness."

Antonio's body betrayed him, his cock hardening in his jeans. He squirmed, trying to hide his reaction, but Damien's knowing smirk told him he'd failed miserably.

"I—I understand," he managed to choke out. "Sir."

Damien's eyes flashed with triumph. He released Antonio, stepping back with a satisfied nod. "Good boy. We'll make a proper submissive out of you yet."

The rest of the day passed in a blur of conflicting emotions for Antonio. Damien kept him close, guiding him through the penthouse with a possessive hand on the small of his back. He explained the security systems, the areas that were off-limits, the expectations for Antonio's behavior.

And through it all, Antonio found himself torn between resentment at his captivity and a growing, reluctant attraction to his captor. Damien was infuriating, domineering, and arrogant as hell. But he was also unfairly gorgeous, with a dark charisma that drew Antonio in despite his best efforts to resist.

By the time evening fell, Antonio was a bundle of raw nerves and confused desire. He picked at the gourmet dinner Damien had ordered in, his appetite gone.

"Not hungry, pet?" Damien's voice was deceptively gentle. "Or just sulking?"

Antonio glared across the table. "Forgive me if I'm not in the mood to play happy families with my kidnapper."

Damien's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Watch your tone, boy. I've been patient with you today, but my generosity has limits."

"Generous?" Antonio scoffed, shoving his plate away. "You call this generous? Keeping me prisoner, treating me like your personal plaything?"

He stood abruptly, chair scraping against the hardwood floor. "You know what? I've had enough. I'm out of here."

Before Damien could react, Antonio bolted for the door. His fingers had just brushed the handle when a solid wall of muscle slammed into him from behind.

Damien pinned him against the door, one arm like an iron bar across Antonio's chest. His breath was hot against Antonio's ear as he growled, "And just where do you think you're going, pet?"

Antonio struggled against the larger man's grip, but it was like fighting a mountain. "Let me go, you psycho! I'm not your fucking pet, I'm not your anything!"

Damien spun him around, slamming Antonio's back against the door hard enough to knock the wind from his lungs. His hand came up to wrap around Antonio's throat, not squeezing but a clear threat.

"You're mine," he snarled, blue eyes blazing with possessive fury. "You gave yourself to me, remember? And I don't let go of what's mine. Ever."

Antonio's heart raced, fear and arousal warring for dominance. He should be terrified. Should be fighting with everything he had. But instead, he found himself melting into Damien's grip, a needy whine escaping his throat.

Damien's eyes darkened, his grip shifting from threatening to possessive. "That's it, pet," he murmured, voice dropping to a husky growl. "Give in. You know you want to."

For a moment, Antonio teetered on the edge of surrender. It would be so easy to let go, to give himself over to Damien's control. To lose himself in the heat and strength of the older man's body.

But a stubborn spark of defiance flared in his chest. He wasn't going to roll over that easily, dammit.

With a surge of adrenaline, Antonio brought his knee up sharply, aiming for Damien's groin. The older man twisted at the last second, avoiding the worst of the blow, but his grip loosened enough for Antonio to slip free.

He darted past Damien, making a break for the balcony. If he could just get outside, maybe he could find a way down, or at least call for help...

Antonio's fingers had just closed around the balcony door handle when Damien tackled him from behind. They went down in a tangle of limbs, Damien's larger body pinning Antonio to the plush carpet.

"You little brat," Damien growled, flipping Antonio onto his back and straddling his hips. He caught Antonio's wrists in one large hand, pinning them above his head. "I was going to be gentle with you, ease you into this. But it seems you need a firmer hand."

Antonio bucked beneath him, trying to throw the larger man off. But Damien's weight held him firmly in place, their bodies pressed together from chest to groin. The friction sent sparks of unwanted pleasure skittering up Antonio's spine.

"Get off me, you asshole!" Antonio snarled, refusing to acknowledge the way his body was responding to Damien's dominance. "I'm not your fucking toy!"

---