Page 57 of Ruthless Royalty

I nod and lead her toward the others, my arm still around her, and I can feel the stares, the whispers as we approach. But I don’t give a shit. Let them talk. Let them fucking wonder.

“You’re not nervous, are you, Kitten?” I ask, my voice low as I glance down at her.

She laughs softly, shaking her head. “Not even a little. Should I be?”

“Only if you’re thinking about running,” I tease, though there’s a part of me that knows she wouldn’t fucking dream of it.

She tilts her head up to look at me, her eyes gleaming with that dangerous spark that I’ve come to fucking crave. “I won’t run unless you’re chasing me.”

I grin, tightening my grip on her. “Well, I don’t chase anyone who’s not worth catching.”

She laughs again, the sound light and carefree.

As we continue walking through the halls, I can feel herposture shifting, growing more confident, more comfortable with the idea of us being together. It’s a good look on her—she’s always had a strength that I admire, even if she tries to hide it sometimes. Now that she’s mine, I’m going to make sure that strength shines through, even if it means pushing her to her limits.

“Hey,” she says suddenly, her voice breaking through my thoughts. “Thanks for … well, for not being an asshole about this.”

I raise an eyebrow, glancing down at her. “You expected me to be?”

She shrugs, a small smile playing on her lips. “You’re Giovanni Basile. It’s kind of your thing.”

I smirk, pulling her a little closer. “You bring out the best in me, Micetta,” I tease, though there’s more truth to those words than I’d care to admit.

She rolls her eyes, but there’s no denying the way she’s leaning into me, her body relaxed against mine. It’s a small victory, but it’s a start.

We reach the courtyard, where a group of students are lounging around, most of them shooting us curious—or envious—glances. I spot Leo among them, his face paling as he sees Chiara with me. I almost feel bad for the guy. Almost.

Chiara notices too, and I can feel the tension in her body as she catches his eye. But instead of pulling away, she does something that surprises me. She steps even closer, slipping her hand into mine and lacing our fingers together.

It’s a small gesture, but the message is clear. She’s with me, and she’s not hiding it.

Leo looks like he’s about to say something, but he stops himself, his eyes darting between us before he finally looks away, defeated. I can’t help the smirk that spreads across my face as I tighten my grip on Chiara’s hand.

“Looks like someone got the message,” I murmur, just loud enough for her to hear.

She glances up at me, her eyes narrowing slightly, but there’s no real heat in it. “Don’t be an ass, Giovanni.”

“Too late,” I reply, leaning down to press a kiss to her cheek. “Besides, I’m just stating the obvious.”

She huffs, but I can see the hint of a smile tugging at her lips. “You don’t need to be jealous, you know.”

“I’m not jealous, baby,” I say, leaning forward to kiss the side of her head. “I’m territorial. There’s a difference.”

She stops walking, turning to face me fully, and I can see the fire in her eyes, the same fire that drew me to her in the first place. “And what about who you belong to?”

I grin, leaning in so our faces are just inches apart. “You already know the answer to that.”

Her eyes search mine, and for a moment, the world narrows down to just the two of us. There’s something electric in the air, something that makes my pulse race and my skin tingle.

Then she leans in, brushing her lips against mine in a kiss that’s both soft and searing; a promise and a challenge all at once. When she pulls back, her eyes are dark with intent.

“I’m glad,” she murmurs, her voice low and dangerous. “Because I don’t fucking share either.”

My grin widens, and I draw my hand to the back of her neck, pulling her close. She’s not just keeping up with me—she’s matching me, step for step, fire for fire.

That’s my girl.

CHIARA

---