𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞 18+

Chapter IV

C H A P T E R 4 : THE GAME BEGINS

Sofie Malone-

The moment the painting was revealed, the room fell into a deep silence, as if everyone could feel the power it held. But for me, it wasn't the art that captivated me—it was the game I had come to play.

I'd made my decision the moment I laid eyes on it. This wasn't just about owning something beautiful; this was about owning everything. The raw chaos in the painting, the violent splash of color, spoke to something deep inside me. Something hungry.

Rafael's eyes followed me as I stared at the painting, his gaze sharp, calculating. He was watching me in a way that sent a heat crawling up my neck, but I didn't dare look away.

His presence was like a weight on me, suffocating, yet it pulled me closer in a way I couldn't control. He stood too close—closer than necessary. I could feel the warmth of his body, the promise of his power pressing against me. His every movement, every breath, was like a silent command.

Then, he leaned in just a bit, close enough that I could feel the heat of his breath on my skin. "You're serious about this one, aren't you?" he murmured, his voice so low it was almost a growl. The sound of it went straight to my core, leaving me breathless and painfully aware of the way my body was responding to him.

I tilted my chin up, meeting his gaze with a challenge in my eyes. "I don't do anything half-heartedly," I said, trying to sound steady, though my heart was thudding painfully in my chest.

He smiled, that same dangerous, knowing smile. It made my insides twist. "You should know, Sofie," he whispered, his lips brushing my ear as he spoke, sending a jolt of heat through my body, "there's no winning against me."

I bit back the shiver that threatened to crawl up my spine. "We'll see about that."

The auctioneer's voice broke through the tension, and the bidding began. But it wasn't the money that was driving me now. This was about more than art. This was a game between Rafael and me, and I wasn't going to lose.

The numbers soared, and I could feel Rafael's presence beside me, like a shadow looming over everything I did. His hand brushed against mine once, just a slight touch, but it felt like an electric current shot through me. I pulled my hand back, but he didn't seem to notice—or maybe he did. Maybe he was enjoying it.

"Sixty-five thousand," I called out, my voice steady, despite the adrenaline pumping through me.

Rafael didn't even flinch. His eyes never left me as he raised his bid. "One hundred thousand."

You have got to be fucking kidding me.

The crowd murmured. But I could only focus on him. On the way his voice dropped a notch, making it feel like he was speaking only to me.

I narrowed my eyes, pushing my way back into the game. "Two hundred thousand."

No way I was going to let him win.

I heard a sharp breath behind me, the collective gasp from the crowd. But I didn't care. My eyes stayed locked on Rafael, whose expression had gone dark, calculating. I could feel the weight of his gaze on me, like he was watching every move I made, every breath I took.

He raised his hand again. "One million."

The room seemed to freeze. One million? It was ridiculous. It was crazy. But it was also Rafael—Rafael DeLuca. He didn't care about the price. -He could care less. He cared about control. And right now, he didn't have control. -But neither did I.

I wasn't about to back down now.

"Two million," I said, my voice sharp, almost daring him to challenge me further. I could feel my pulse quicken. It wasn't just the auction. It wasn't just about winning this piece of art. It was about winning him.

Yet it took me a second to realize; he won.

I was so zoned out, it was too late.

He won.

Rafael didn't flinch. In fact, his lips curled up into a smile that was as predatory as it was seductive. "Sold," the auctioneer called, but the word didn't matter. The moment was ours.

The room erupted with applause, but I barely heard it. Rafael's eyes locked onto mine, and in them, I saw something that made my breath catch in my throat. It wasn't just triumph. It was a promise.

"A worthy addition to my collection," Rafael said, his voice dripping with meaning. But it wasn't about the painting. It never was. He was talking about me.

I stood frozen, my heart racing, every nerve in my body on fire. His gaze never left mine, and for a moment, I forgot about the room, forgot about everything. It was just us.

Everyone was so distracted by the rest of the auction, that even if we bid, a lot, it didn't matter. The event continues. -And we were behind.

No literally, we were basically behind everyone, meaning no ones attention was on us.

He stepped closer, close enough that I could feel his presence behind pressing into me, his breath hot against my skin. "Enough about the art," he said softly, his voice barely above a whisper, the words laced with a dangerous intimacy. "What do you really want, Sofie? Tell me."

My breath caught in my throat, my mind spinning. I wanted to answer, but I couldn't find the words. I didn't need to. He already knew. He'd been toying with me all night, pulling me in closer, making me feel things I wasn't ready for. I just met the guy for God's sake.

His lips hovered just inches from my ear, the heat between us suffocating. My words got caught in my throat and I couldn't form any words.

My body was betraying me right now.

"We've been playing this game of cat and mouse, but what's the prize for you, Sofie? "

I didn't need to answer, and he knew that. I had just met the man and he was already doing things to me.

Making me feel things.

Rafael didn't flinch. Instead, his lips curled into a slow, knowing smile, the kind that made my heart race and my thoughts scatter. "You really think you can win this, Sofie? You think you're going to have the control? " he murmured, his voice low, tinged with dark amusement.

Without even missing a beat, in his already low voice, so low I almost missed it.

"No love, I do."

I didn't answer. I didn't need to. Even if I wanted to, I couldnt.

Because at that moment, we both knew exactly what this was.

What it was going to turn into.

And it was only the beginning.

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