Seduction and Power

Chapter Seven: Dangerous Games

I couldn't shake the feeling of Luca's claim on me. His words echoed in my head like a promise wrapped in chains: You're mine. I hated how my heart had raced at that, how the darkness in his eyes had pulled me in deeper. But I wasn't his—at least, not fully. I couldn't afford to let him have that much power.

Luca might have taken my curiosity and flirtation with danger as submission, but he had another thing coming if he thought I'd be his obedient little prize. No, I wasn't like the others. I was playing a long game, one that I'd started the moment I agreed to the date. And if he was going to test me, I'd test him right back.

After our last encounter, Luca seemed to give me space, though I knew it was calculated, as everything with him was. He was watching, waiting for me to make a move. So, I made sure to play my part—strong, capable, but never too distant. I knew it was a fine line, and I walked it perfectly. My flirtations with his men grew bolder, the teasing looks, the light touches on their arms, knowing Luca's eyes were always somewhere nearby.

Today was no different. I found myself in Luca's penthouse, a place that was becoming too familiar for my liking, but one I navigated with ease now. The guards were stationed like statues, their eyes trained on me but never lingering too long. Except for one. Matteo. He was new, younger than the others, with a charming smile and a dangerous edge beneath it. I liked the way he tried not to stare when I walked past, but couldn't help himself.

As I passed by him in the hallway, I slowed down just enough to catch his gaze. I smirked, letting my fingers lightly brush his arm as I walked by.

"You're new here," I said, my voice soft but laced with something darker. "I hope Luca's warned you about me."

Matteo's eyes flickered with interest, though he tried to hide it. "He's mentioned you."

I laughed lightly, stopping in front of him, close enough that I could see the way his muscles tensed under my gaze. "Let me guess—stay away, she's trouble?"

Matteo gave a small nod, though his eyes betrayed his curiosity. "Something like that."

I stepped even closer, my voice dropping to a whisper. "I like trouble."

His breath hitched, just slightly, and I could see him struggling to maintain his composure. There was a thrill in it, knowing I had this effect on Luca's men, knowing that they were drawn to me, even though they knew they shouldn't be. I reveled in that power, in the way they looked at me when they thought Luca wasn't watching.

But Luca always knew.

"I can see that," Matteo muttered, his eyes flicking briefly down to my lips before snapping back to meet my gaze.

Before I could push things further, a voice broke the tension.

"I see you're getting comfortable."

Luca's voice was like a whip, sharp and cutting, and I turned to find him standing at the end of the hallway, his dark eyes locked on me, unreadable. Matteo instantly stepped back, his posture stiffening as he straightened. But I didn't flinch. I met Luca's gaze with the same strength I always had, refusing to let him see how his presence still had the power to unsettle me.

"Just making conversation," I said casually, my lips curving into a smile. "You said I was free to explore, didn't you?"

Luca's expression didn't change, but the tension in the air thickened. He walked toward me slowly, his steps measured, every movement deliberate. He stopped inches away, towering over me, his presence suffocating in a way that sent a thrill down my spine.

"You're always pushing, Gabriella," he said softly, his voice dripping with something dark. "Do you enjoy testing me? Seeing how far you can go before I pull you back?"

I tilted my head, matching his intensity with my own. "Maybe. But you like it, don't you? If you didn't, you wouldn't keep me around."

Luca's eyes flickered, a brief spark of something dangerous. He reached out, his fingers brushing my chin before gripping it firmly, tilting my face up so I had no choice but to meet his gaze.

"I keep you around because you intrigue me," he said, his voice low and cold. "But don't mistake my interest for patience. Push too far, and you'll find out exactly what I'm capable of."

I smiled, feeling the pull of power between us like a magnet, the tension snapping tighter with each word. "You forget, Luca. I already know what you're capable of."

His grip tightened for a fraction of a second before he let go, his eyes darkening as he stepped back. I didn't miss the way his jaw clenched, the way his eyes flickered with frustration. He was used to control, used to people bending to his will. But not me.

I wasn't like his other women—the ones who stayed quiet, who melted under his gaze and did whatever he asked. I wasn't afraid of him, at least not in the way he wanted me to be. I had my own power, and I intended to keep it.

"Dinner," Luca said finally, his voice back to its usual commanding tone. "Be ready at eight."

I raised an eyebrow, smirking slightly. "Another date? You must be getting soft."

Luca's lips curved into a cold smile. "Don't confuse curiosity for softness, Gabriella. You're still playing in my world. Remember that."

As he turned and walked away, I couldn't help but feel the thrill of the game tightening around us. Luca thought he had me cornered, thought he held all the cards, but I wasn't some pawn in his empire. I was my own piece, and I was ready to keep playing.

After all, Luca might have been the king in his world, but I was no one's queen. I was a force all my own.