Chapter 69: Lunatic

Third POV

The change in Fabio’s expression was immediate. The curiosity that had been in his eyes disappeared, replaced by a sharp, dangerous look that seemed to cut through the air between them. His face remained controlled, but something in his gaze turned cold enough to make the atmosphere in the restroom feel suffocating.

Fabio stared at him through the mirror before turning his head slightly.

"You’re thinking of it?"

His voice was deep and dark, each word carrying a warning he made no attempt to hide.

Marco did not answer immediately. He turned to face Fabio, their gazes locking as the silence stretched between them. There was something almost unbearable about the intensity of the moment. Fabio looked ready to tear apart anything that stood between him and what he wanted, while Marco seemed determined to see just how far he could push him.

"Tell me how," Marco finally said.

Fabio’s eyes narrowed.

"How do I do it without killing him?" Marco added, his voice remaining calm despite the tension between them.

Fabio stepped closer and planted his hands on either side of Marco, trapping him against the counter. His gaze never left Marco’s face, and when he spoke, his voice was firm, filled with venom and a dangerous calm.

"Then don’t."

Marco’s lips twitched slightly, but his expression remained composed. "He wants it. I have come too far to let the chance of bringing Edoardo to his knees slip through my fingers."

Fabio fell silent.

For a few seconds, he simply stared at Marco, his expression growing darker as he considered what the man had said. Marco was willing to entertain the thought of sleeping with Luca if it meant getting closer to his goal. The fact that he was even considering it made Fabio’s blood boil, and yet he knew Marco well enough to understand that ordering him to abandon the idea would not necessarily make him do so.

Instead, Fabio slowly lowered his head towards Marco’s shoulder. He moved with deliberate slowness, bringing his chin down until it made contact with the man’s shoulder. He did not fully rest his weight against him, but the small touch was enough to close the remaining distance between their bodies.

"Do you think I’ll let you?" Fabio asked quietly.

Marco swallowed, his throat moving slightly as he watched Fabio. Then he lifted one hand and placed it over Fabio’s, intertwining their fingers. His grip tightened, holding the man’s hand as though he wanted to make the contact feel more real.

"Why won’t you?" he asked.

Fabio’s eyes remained on him.

Marco continued, his voice quieter this time. "You once said you wouldn’t care unless I was your man."

Fabio swallowed. A dark chuckle escaped him, though there was no amusement in his eyes. He rubbed the side of his cheek against Marco’s hair before closing his eyes, savouring the contact. For him, even this small moment was enough to make the world feel bearable. He was touching Marco, holding his hand, standing close enough to feel his warmth. It was him holding hands, not Luca, and Fabio wanted nothing more than to keep it that way.

He opened his eyes slowly.

"The moment you took my ring, you signed yourself to me," Fabio murmured. "The Corvino ring usually goes to one’s life partner."

He lifted his head and pressed a brief kiss against Marco’s neck. His lips lingered against the skin for a moment before he pulled back just enough to look at him. "Do you still dare say you are not mine?"

Marco did not reply. He simply stared at Fabio, his fingers still intertwined with the man’s. His grip tightened further, almost as though he needed the contact to hold on to something neither of them was willing to say aloud.

"Then what do you suggest I do about Lu..."

He did not get to finish that name.

Fabio’s other hand shot up and closed around his throat, gripping hard enough to hurt. His fingers pressed against Marco’s skin, and the sharp sting of his nails made Marco’s brows draw together. A low growl escaped him as he looked at Fabio, whose expression had become downright vicious.

"You lunatic!"

Despite the insult, a smirk slowly appeared at the corner of Marco’s lips, liking every ounce of the roughness. His gaze dropped to Fabio’s hand that was still choking him, faint red marks beginning to add to the formers. Rather than pushing him away, Marco parted his lips and let out a low groan, his expression carrying just enough provocation to make it clear that Fabio’s reaction had not entirely displeased him. Well, it never did anyway.

Fabio’s mouth curved into an evil smile.

"I’ve got a way to deal with him."

Marco raised his chin slightly, his neck still caught in Fabio’s grasp. The pressure had eased, though Fabio’s fingers remained wrapped around him. Marco watched him for a moment before speaking.

"As long as it doesn’t involve killing him... yet."

Fabio barely seemed to hear him. His attention had shifted to Marco’s neck now, and he began tracing the marks with his fingers, watching the skin beneath his touch. There was a disturbing satisfaction in the way he examined the traces he had left behind, as though they were proof of something he had every intention of protecting.

Then, without warning, he spun Marco around to face him.

Marco gasped as his back struck the tiled surface of the sink. Before he could recover from the impact, Fabio gripped his jaw roughly, forcing his face up towards his own. Their eyes met for a brief second, and Marco barely had time to register the look in Fabio’s eyes before the man pulled him into a deep, consuming kiss.

It was not a gentle kiss, nor was it meant to be. Fabio kissed him as though he had reached the end of his patience, pouring every twisted thought, every buried yearning, and every burning desire into the contact. There was anger in the way he held Marco, possessiveness in the pressure of his fingers, and a desperate intensity that made it impossible to mistake the reason behind his actions.

He could not bear the thought of Luca touching Marco. He could not stand the idea of Marco allowing another man to come close enough to kiss him, let alone share his bed. The very possibility had been enough to strip away the restraint he had maintained, leaving nothing but the need to make Marco understand exactly how he felt about it.

Marco’s eyes widened momentarily before falling shut. His hand moved to Fabio’s waist and gripped him firmly.

The kiss consumed whatever remained of Marco’s restraint. He found himself indulging in the ecstasy of it, allowing Fabio to assault every corner of his lips and mouth.

The warmth of Fabio’s body, the rough grip on his jaw, and the undeniable intensity behind the kiss left him with little desire to think about anything else. He had missed this, he had dreamt about numerous and now that he finally had a taste of it again, it brought back that addiction with it.

For those few moments, Marco forgot about Luca’s request and the decision he had yet to make. He forgot about Edoardo and the revenge that had brought him into this marriage in the first place. All he could feel was Fabio, and all he could do was hold on to him, surrendering to a pleasure that felt as dangerous as it was irresistible.

It was a cursed kind of ecstasy, one Marco had no intention of letting go.

And Fabio, who also had no intention of allowing another man to touch what he considered his, kissed him as though he had already made his decision about Luca.