Chapter 2 Become Her

The gunfire died down quickly. Alessandro got up and straightened his slightly rumpled collar. His emerald eyes turned icy once more. "Get rid of them," he ordered before lifting the still-weak Lucia from the floor. "We're leaving." They returned to Alessandro's villa. Its design was minimalist, and its wide floor-to-ceiling windows faced the sea. The villa was beautiful but reminiscent of a gilded cage. Dinner was already prepared. Alessandro cut his steak with effortless elegance. Lucia couldn't eat, as her stomach twisted painfully. She kept remembering the cold words he had spoken at the wedding, the heat of his body when he shielded her, and the uncontrollable pounding of her heart amid the gunfire. Shame, fear, and a strange, unfamiliar flutter collided inside her. It made her unable to sit still. Finally, Alessandro put down his utensils and dabbed the corner of his mouth with a napkin. "I'm done." He rose to his feet. "Come with me," he ordered, his voice containing no emotion. He pressed a button to open a hidden door. Then, he led her down a staircase toward the basement. A wave of cold air hit them. Lucia's heart jumped to her throat, and she instinctively stepped back. "Don't run." His voice made any resistance impossible. She trailed after him and made her way down the steps stiffly. The basement had no windows. At its center stood a strangely designed black leather chair. Alessandro walked to a cabinet at the side of the room and pulled open a drawer. Inside lay a black leather collar… and a matching leash. Lucia's pupils constricted sharply. Blood rushed to her head. She instantly understood what he intended to do. Her voice trembled as she shook her head. "No… You can't…" Alessandro ignored her protests and came closer to her, taking deliberate, slow steps. With his tall figure, the shadow he cast enveloped her completely. His presence was so overwhelming that even breathing felt difficult. "She liked this," he said, his voice low and frightening. "She liked complete submission." Lucia lifted her tearful eyes, lit with resistance for the first time. "I'm not her!" "You will be soon," Alessandro replied lightly, with a hint of cruelty. He reached out and easily overpowered her resistance by fastening the collar around her neck. He clipped the leash onto the metal ring. With a gentle tug, Lucia lost her balance and fell to her knees at his feet. This posture was utterly degrading. Humiliation coursed through her, making her tears spill uncontrollably. Alessandro crouched down and gripped her chin to force her face upward. He studied the tears on her cheeks and frowned. He wiped them away roughly with his thumb. "Who said you could cry?" He claimed her lips without warning. It carried a punishing edge as he sucked away the air in her mouth. Trapped in his arms, Lucia was forced to endure his possessive kiss. After a while, Alessandro picked up a leather whip and used its handle to lift her chin. "You'll have to get used to being restrained." The whip glided lightly across her shoulder and down her spine. Lucia held her breath. "Turn around," Alessandro commanded. Slowly, she turned around as she was told. The whip struck her on the butt. It wasn't heavy-handed, but it carried a hint of warning. Then, there came another stroke that was a bit more forceful. Lucia bit her lip. Alessandro pushed her onto the black leather chair and tore at her wedding gown. The sound of fabric tearing echoed sharply through the room. He leaned down and pressed his lips on the back of her neck. His hands shot up to grope around roughly. Lucia shook like a leaf and protested, "No… I don't want this!" "Don't move," he murmured, spraying his warm breath onto the back of her ear. He was so turned on that it hurt. Without warning, he went in. Lucia's back arched from the pain. She gripped the edges of the chair tightly. Alessandro claimed her intensely and savagely. With every movement, she couldn't help but let out pained, suppressed moans. Agony and pleasure intertwined, and she found herself unable to resist the ecstatic sensation despite feeling utterly ashamed. Lucia hated Alessandro's cruelty. She loathed how he treated her like she was a soulless puppet. Ironically, she felt fatally attracted to his forceful possession. Her body betrayed her will and gave in to the twisted pleasure he created. Alessandro's movements became increasingly intense. He claimed her mercilessly. The sweat sliding down his forehead and dripping onto Lucia's shoulder felt scorching against her skin. Gripping her chin, he forced her to turn her head around. He kissed her tempestuously to silence her moans. Lucia's consciousness blurred under the overwhelming mix of extreme physical stimulation and mental torment. With each impact, she felt her awareness slipping away. Finally, she descended into complete darkness. When she woke again, she was lying on the large bed in the master bedroom. Her whole body felt sore. Every sensation reminded her of what had happened—the pain, humiliation, and the damning feeling of carnal pleasure that she couldn't deny. Was this what her married life would be? Was nothing but a substitute doomed to endure loveless intercourse with a man whose moods were as violent as the storm?