Illicit Pleasure

Chapter 3

Ares Ellison's thunderous voice filled the punishment room, echoing like a storm threatening to break. "I'll claim you, body and soul, sweetie!"

He towered over Chloe Jasver, his expression dark as he fastened the chains tighter around her wrists and ankles. "Stop what you are doing! Damn stop escaping!" His voice was cold as ice, sharp enough to slice through the tension in the room.

Chloe struggled against the restraints, glaring at him with defiance burning in her eyes. "Don't act so high and mighty, Ares. You'll be the one begging me. Not now, but soon," she said sharply.

Ares's jaw clenched as he stared at her, his frustration barely concealed. "Stop being stubborn, and we're good, Chloe," he warned, his tone carrying the full weight of his authority. "Don't mess up with my plans."

Chloe smirked, leaning back against the cold wall. "If I wanted to mess up your plans, I would," she shot back, her words like a spark to his already short fuse.

The room, devoid of anyone but them, seemed smaller with the intensity between them. Ares' plans for the day had been ruined the moment he found her attempting to escape his room.

"Don't be hardheaded, Chloe," Ares growled, stepping closer. "You will not like what I do to you."

"Oh? Really?" Chloe raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening. "You've already touched me. What more can you do?"

Her words only seemed to stoke the fire in Ares's eyes. His muscles tensed visibly, and his face was void of emotion, yet his gaze was like a raging inferno. He approached her with deliberate slowness, his presence overwhelming.

Chloe struggled against the chains, but every time she moved, Ares leaned closer. His breath brushed against her face, hot and teasing.

"Easy on me, sweetie," he murmured, his lips curling into a sly smirk.

Chloe clenched her jaw, closing her eyes briefly to block out the intoxicating effect of his minty breath, laced faintly with cigarettes. Her body betrayed her, reacting to his nearness in ways she despised.

"Who do you think you are to order me around?" She snapped, her voice laced with venom. "You're not a god, Ares, and I won't bow to you."

Ares's chuckle was low and menacing. "How about this?" He challenged, his hand trailing dangerously close to her waistband.

Her body stiffened as his palm rested on her abdomen, his touch sending an involuntary jolt through her. She bit the inside of her cheek to suppress the reaction.

"Damn you, Ellison!" She spat, her voice shaking with a mixture of anger and something else she refused to name. "Stop arousing me, you bastard!"

Ares smirked playfully, his fingers teasing the fabric of her trousers. "Do you feel how hot you are for me, Chloe?" He whispered, his voice husky and deliberate.

Her breath hitched, and despite her best efforts to suppress it, a groan escaped her lips. She tilted her head to the side, trying to resist the growing heat pooling in her abdomen.

"Stop... it." She managed to choke out, though her voice was weak. "Just stop, Ares..."

Ares's eyes darkened with something primal, his smirk replaced with a more serious expression. "I'd like to take you," he murmured, his voice like velvet against her ear. "I don't know why I crave this, but I do."

Chloe's resolve cracked further as his lips brushed against her neck, leaving a trail of heat in their wake. She tried to maintain her composure, but her body was betraying her.

"Very well," she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "Just... stop teasing me, Ares."

Ares chuckled softly, the sound vibrating through her. "Not until you learn to behave," he said, pulling back just enough to meet her gaze. His hand moved slower, torturously so, drawing another groan from her lips.

Her pride warred with her desire to escape this torment. "I won't escape," she finally growled through clenched teeth. "I'm sorry, okay?"

At her admission, Ares released her wrists from the chains, his movements measured and deliberate.

"If you have a problem with me, don't sabotage my plans again," he said, his voice cold and authoritative. "Just spar with me."

Chloe rubbed her sore wrists, glaring at him as he turned his back to her. For a fleeting moment, she considered attacking him, but her instincts warned against it.

She stalked toward the bathroom, but before she reached the door, his voice stopped her in her tracks.

"Escape again, and you'll be punished in ways you won't recover from," Ares said, his tone low and dangerous.

Chloe swallowed hard, resisting the urge to curse him. As she entered the bathroom, she clenched her fists.

"Damn him!" She muttered under her breath. "Damn that arrogant, sadistic maniac!"

Her reflection in the mirror showed a flush she couldn't deny, and it only fueled her anger. She knew one thing for sure—this war between them was far from over.

Chloe splashed cold water on her face, trying to drown the lingering heat that clung to her skin. Her pulse was erratic, her mind a battlefield of fury and confusion. She hated him. She hated how her body betrayed her under his touch. Ares Ellison was everything she despised—arrogant, cruel, and intoxicatingly dangerous.

Looking at her reflection, Chloe gritted her teeth. I can't let him win. I won't. He wanted her to break, to beg, but she would show him that she was stronger than his games. Drying her face with trembling hands, she steadied herself before stepping out of the bathroom.

Ares lounged on the couch, his shirt now unbuttoned, exposing his sculpted chest. He sipped a glass of whiskey, watching her with a smug, knowing smirk.

"Feeling refreshed, sweetie?" he drawled, his voice mocking.

Chloe shot him a cold glare. "Don't flatter yourself, Ellison. I'm not as easily broken as your other toys."

His smirk deepened, his gaze trailing her like a predator sizing up its prey. "Good. I like a challenge."

She crossed her arms, holding her ground. "This isn't a game, Ares. Push me, and you'll regret it."

Ares chuckled darkly. "We'll see, sweetie. We'll see."

She glanced at him with a stern look. "Really? Let's play and let's see who will win the game you are entering, Von."

"You think I'm scared? Not at all, Chloe..." he reminded with a smirk on his face.

"Subukan mo," sagot ni Chloe, ang mga mata niya'y nag-aalab habang nakatingin kay Ares. "Hindi mo alam kung anong kaya kong gawin."

Tumayo si Ares mula sa kanyang pagkakaupo, ang mga mata niya'y tila humahamon. "Ikaw ba ang magpapabagsak sa akin, Chloe? Mukha yatang nangangarap ka ng gising."

Ngumisi si Chloe nang mapang-asar. "At least hindi ako natatakot na harapin ka."

Lumapit si Ares, ang kanyang presensya’y nakakapanghina, ngunit hindi nagpatinag si Chloe. Tumigil siya ilang pulgada lamang ang layo mula sa kanya. Ang kanyang boses ay mababa, puno ng panganib.

"Ang tapang mo, Chloe. Ngunit ang tapang na hindi sinusuportahan ng aksyon ay kahangalan lamang."

Hindi nagpaawat si Chloe. "Kaya ko ang lahat ng ginagawa mo, Ares. Hindi mo ako masisira, kahit ano pa ang gawin mo."

Ang mga salita niya'y tila nagpasiklab pa lalo ng init sa pagitan nila. Hinawakan ni Ares ang kanyang baba, pinilit siyang tumingin sa kanyang mga mata.

"Kahit gaano ka katapang, Chloe, isa kang bilanggo ngayon. At ako ang nagmamay-ari sa'yo."

Nagpakawala ng mapait na tawa si Chloe. "Bilanggo mo? Huwag kang magkamali, Ares. Ang pagiging bihag ay pansamantala lamang. Darating ang araw na ikaw ang magiging bihag ko."

Ngunit imbes na maapektuhan, ngumiti si Ares nang mas malalim. "Mataas ang pangarap mo, Chloe. Pero hindi mo alam kung gaano kalawak ang mundo ko."

Umupo siya muli, tila ba sinasadyang ipakita ang kumpiyansa niya sa kontrol niya sa sitwasyon. "Sige, sabihin mo sa akin. Ano ang plano mo? Paano mo ako tatalunin?"

Nag-isip si Chloe, ngunit alam niyang hindi pa oras para ibunyag ang kanyang mga baraha. Tumitig siya sa kanya, isang maanghang na ngiti ang sumilay sa kanyang mga labi. "Hindi ko kailangang sabihin sa'yo, Ares. Pero huwag kang kampante."

Ngumisi si Ares, umiling nang bahagya. "Kung ganun, maghintay na lang ako sa susunod mong hakbang. Pero tandaan mo ito, Chloe—sa laro ko, walang nananalo kundi ako."

Bago siya makapagsalita, bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Belarmino, tila nagmamadali.

"My Lord, may natanggap kaming impormasyon tungkol sa isa pang grupo ng mga kalaban. Mukhang sinusubukan nilang pumasok muli sa teritoryo."

Tumayo si Ares, ang kanyang mukha’y seryoso. "Siguraduhing walang makalulusot. Patayin silang lahat."

"Masusunod po," sagot ni Belarmino bago mabilis na umalis.

Bumalik ang tingin ni Ares kay Chloe, ang mga mata niya'y tila nagbabala. "Mukhang hindi matatapos ang gabi na ito nang payapa. Ngunit huwag kang mag-alala, Chloe. Hinding-hindi kita papakawalan."

Nagpumiglas muli si Chloe. "Siguraduhin mo, Ares. Dahil kung magkakamali ka, maghahanda ka sa araw na babaliktad ang mundo mo."

Ngunit imbes na magalit, ngumiti si Ares. "Lagi akong handa, Chloe. Pero tandaan mo, mas masarap ang laban kapag hindi pantay ang laban. At ako ang laging nasa itaas."

Nagpupuyos ang damdamin ni Chloe, ngunit hindi niya pinakita ang kahinaan. Alam niyang kailangang maghintay ng tamang pagkakataon upang makawala sa kamay ng lalaking ito. Ngunit sa kanyang puso, nag-apoy ang determinasyon na ibagsak ang makapangyarihang si Ares Ellison Von.