No One’s Pov

The warm water of the tub splashed over the sides as Viella squirmed, her heart racing.

Dante’s hands were no longer just washing her, they were tracing the curves he had claimed only hours before, moving from her waist to her thighs and dangerously close to her most sensitive areas.

"Dante, stop! I said I’m sore!" she gasped, her hands splashing against the water as she tried to push his firm chest away.

But it was like trying to move a mountain. Dante didn’t move. Instead, he caught both of her wrists in one of his large hands, pinning them gently but firmly against the cold edge of the tub. Before she could protest again, he stepped into the water, the fabric of his trousers clinging to his muscular legs as he sat behind her, pulling her back against his chest.

The heat of his body was even more intense through the wet clothes. He leaned down, his lips brushing against her damp neck, sending shivers through her despite the warm water.

"At least your mouth isn’t so sore like the rest of your body, amore mia," he murmured, his voice thick.

Before Viella could even process, he turned her face toward him and crashed his lips against hers. The kiss was deep and wet, the lingering taste of their act was still there. She felt her resolve melting once again but she didn’t give in.

Viella’s teeth sank into his lip with a snap, her nails digging into the damp skin of his shoulders. The sudden sting forced Dante to pull back just enough for her to break the connection.

"You pervert!!!" she hissed, her chest heaving.

"Taking advantage of a small, pitiful girl? Have you no conscience?!" She punctuated her words by hitting his chest, though her fists felt like they were striking solid rock.

A slow smirk played on Dante’s lips as he wiped a stray drop of blood from his mouth. "Oh, a little girl? The same one who tried to ’murder’ me with a dagger? My, how quickly the story changes when you’re the one pinned down."

Viella didn’t answer, she just glared at him.

Dante reached out and playfully splashed a bit of water back onto her face "Fine, fine. I won’t make my bunny more mad for now. Let’s finish the shower, or you’re going to catch a cold and blame me for that, too."

For the rest of the bath, Viella remained stony faced and silent. The weight of her being powerlessness was suffocating she was the person who took down the author of this book, yet she couldn’t even outsmart one obsessed man.

Finally, Dante stood up, the water sliding off his frame as he stepped out of the tub. Without any modesty, he began peeling off his now soaked trousers.

"What the heck! Why are you changing right in front of me?!" Viella shrieked. "Have some shame!"

Dante didn’t even pause. He tossed the wet fabric onto the floor, standing there in his full naked body. "Why should I? You’ve already seen everything, haven’t you? In fact, I recall you enjoyed it to-"

Before the word "too" could even leave his mouth, Viella’s hand closed around the bottle of shampoo. With a scream of pure frustration, she hurled it at his head.

Dante ducked, the bottle slide past his ear and thudding against the wall. He let out a booming laugh."Careful, Vivien! If you keep throwing things, I might have to find a new way to keep your hands busy."

Viella huffed and turned her back to him, the splashing water of the shower filling the silence of the bathroom.

She told herself she didn’t care, that she hated him, but a curiosity began to itch at the back of her mind. Last night had been a blur of heat and overwhelming sensation. Her vision had been hazy, her mind spinning too fast to truly process the man who had claimed her.

She bit her lip, her heart pounding as she risked a cautious peek over her shoulder.

Her breath caught in her throat. Dante stood under the the water. He was built with a broad, shoulders that tapered down into a lean waist.

His muscles were toned and hard. The veins were visible clearly. He was like a recreation of a Greek god.

Then, her gaze traveled lower, and her eyes widened in genuine shock. A deep blush swept across her face, turning her skin a frantic shade of red. She flipped back around instantly, splashing water over her face to try and cool the sudden fire in her cheeks.

She looked down at her own lower body.

That...how...like how is that even...

"No wonder it hurts so bad," she muttered under her breath. "That’s... that’s not human. Why is everything about him so... excessive?"

The sensations were still too vivid. Every time Viella blinked, she could almost feel the weight of him again, the relentless pressure of his body against hers. Her mind kept replaying the way he had filled her with overwhelming size of him that had left her feeling stretched and opened.

Forget it, forget it, forget it! she screamed internally, splashing more water on her face. Focus, Viella! You are a CST student, not a... a smutty romance novel lead!

"What are you thinking about so intensely, amore mia?"

She snapped her head toward the voice, bracing herself to see that anaconda again, but she let out a shaky breath of relief when she saw a white towel wrapped securely around his waist.

Dante didn’t wait for an answer. He knelt by the edge of the tub, reaching in with a large towel.

He scooped her up and held her tightly against his chest. He carried her back into the bedroom, moving with that effortless strength that made her feel like she weighed nothing at all. Doesn’t he feel sour in his body or what?!!

He placed her gently into a plush chair near the vanity. As the steam cleared from her vision, Viella finally caught a full glimpse of herself in the mirror.

She gasped, her hands flying to her throat. Her neck, her collarbones, even the tops of her shoulders were filled with fresh purple hickeys.

"Exactly how wild were you?!" she muttered, glaring at his reflection. "I look like I was attacked by a very horny octopus!"

Dante ignored the glare, a satisfaction expression playing on his face.

He picked up the blow dryer, the low hum filling the room as he began to dry her hair with surprising tenderness.

After drying her hair, he laid out a set soft, oversized pajamas and fresh undergarments on the bed.

"If you want help getting into those, you only have to ask," he said, leaning down to wink at her through the mirror.

"If you want me to break this crystal vase over your head, then keep talking," she snapped, clutching the towel tighter around her bruised skin. 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Dante let out a low chuckle. He didn’t push further this time. He straightened up and walked toward the door, his bare back muscles were visible.

Click.

The sound of the lock turning from the outside echoed in the quiet room.

"Tsk. Does he really think I’m going to run away with this body?" Viella grumbled to herself, gingerly trying to stand up. A sharp ache shot through her core, and her knees buckled slightly. "Tsk, tsk... my legs feel like literal jelly. I couldn’t even make it to the hallway, let alone a secret exit."

Viella finally changed into the oversized pajamas Dante had left for her. Each movement made her muscles felt like they had been crushed, dull throb in her lower body served as a constant reminder of the "punishment" she had endured.

She crawled into the massive bed but her mind was racing

Think, Viella, think! she scolded herself. How did a CST student end up in a web novel disaster like this?

She was completely isolated. No phone, no money, and no idea where this mansion even was. Her one trump card was now just two pieces of broken metal. And the Author? Dead.

She had literally killed the only person who might have known the Log Out button for this world.

"Maybe I shouldn’t have killed him that fast," Viella muttered. "I really need to work on my impulse control."

Suddenly, a glint of light on the nightstand caught her eye. Dante’s phone.

He had forgotten it. Or, knowing that arrogant man, he had left it there just to taunt her. She lunged for it.

Locked. Of course.

She tried a few common patterns- his birthday? Nonna’s birthday? Nothing worked. She was just about to throw it across the room in frustration when the screen lit up with a ding.

A notification banner appeared. Viella’s breath hitched when she saw the sender.... Lily.

Lily: Lord Dante, is my lady with you? I am getting worried. Please let me know if she’s fine. I am currently in Miami so I can’t check up on her... if she is with you, then please make sure to not let her go outside because...

The text cut off right there. Viella stared at the screen, her jaw dropping.

"What the heck?!" she hissed.

"Lily? My sweet, innocent maid (not so sweet and Innocent) telling Dante to keep me inside?!".

And Miami???!!! Lily was supposed to be back at the main estate, resting with her injury!!! Also because....? What because?? Uggggg!!!

"Seriously! Who even wrote this plot? Oh wait, I killed him along with the plot," she whispered frantically.

Click.

The sound of the door handle turning made her blood turn ice cold. In one panicked motion, Viella shoved the phone back onto the nightstand and sprawled across the pillows, pulling the blanket up to her nose just as Dante stepped into the room

"I apologize, amore mio, did I make you wait too long? You must be starving," Dante said, his voice dripping with a sweetness.

His "sweet" side was almost cute, but Viella mentally shook herself. Nope, nope, don’t be fooled, Viella! He’s just a psychopath who happens to look like a Greek God.

Dante placed a tray of food in front of her, the aroma of garlic and butter filling the air. He picked up a fork, attempting to feed her as if she were a precious doll, but Viella remained stone faced.

"I want my answers, Dante!" she demanded, her voice trembling despite her resolve. "How do you know my real name? How do you know about... Vivien?"

Dante paused, the fork hovering in the air. He tilted his head, a dark amusement in his eyes.

"You’re only worried about that? Not that I know you’re a normal college student who does a part-time job at a convenience store? That you live in a cramped apartment with drafty windows? That you don’t really have many friends and you’re... well, broke?"

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TO BE CONTINUED