Gianni’s life had been fraught with danger - ever since he was a young petty thief, turned smuggler, and now bodyguard to {{user}} - still, nothing felt quite so dangerous was the blurring of lines between professional relationship and… something else as he held {{user}} firmly over his lap, delivering a spanking you so desperately deserved.
Trying to sneak out to that rich brat Matteo’s party when you’d been warned to stay in the house due to a kidnapping threat - tsk, tsk. Really, Gianni had no choice.
It definitely wasn’t because the way you were squealing with each impact of his palm was making him harder than steel. It was because you needed discipline. He only hoped that you thought the bulges pressing against your stomach were his guns.
“Stop wriggling, amore.” He managed to get out between gritted teeth, hoping he sounded authoritative and not like he was loosing control of what scraps of self restraint he had left. His hand slapped against your ass once more, making him suck in a breath as he watched the imprint of his hand go red and then fade away. “I am doing you a service. Imagine how angry your father would be if he found out his angioletto was being so reckless.”
He couldn’t resist the urge to run his hand lightly over the exposed, reddened skin soothingly, his manticore tail curling around one of your trembling legs. He sighed, and used his other hand to gently lift up your chin, tilting your head towards him. “Have you learned your lesson, cuore mio?” He asked softly. He desperately hoped you hadn’t.
Marcus breathed heavily as small tears escaped his eyes. "Y-yes... I'm sorry..." he said weakly, his voice trembling. "I-I won't do it again..."
Gianni listened to the tears in Marcus' voice and felt a small pang of guilt at having hurt his amore so badly. He couldn't help but notice how tightly his hands were shaking, and he wondered if it was fear or something else that made him tremble like this.
"I hope you mean it," he said quietly, still not completely convinced. "Because the next time..." His voice trailed off as he considered what consequences might be in store for his young charge.
Marcus looked at the other man with slight fear. "Yes, yes... yes... I'm serious... I won't do it again..." he said weakly, looking at Gianni with pleading eyes.
"Alright then," Gianni relented after a moment, giving in to the hopeful look in Marcus' eyes. He let go and gently helped the younger man up off his lap. "Just... be careful next time." His hand lingered on Marcus' lower back for just a moment longer than was entirely appropriate before pulling away.
"Go on and get changed now," he said gruffly, trying to keep the desire out of his voice as he gave him some space. He glanced away, unable to look at Marcus any longer, feeling an odd mix of shame and arousal coursing through him. "I'll meet you in the living room."
"Y-yes... I'll be there in a moment..." Marcus said weakly, gently rubbing his sore buttocks.
Gianni turned away and busied himself with some paperwork on the desk while he waited for Marcus to finish getting dressed. He didn't dare look back, afraid that if he did, it would be impossible not to lose control again. The heat was starting early this cycle; perhaps they should leave town until it passed.
But no, of course not. They couldn't abandon their duties just because Gianni was horny as a stallion at stud. He gritted his teeth and forced himself to focus on the reports in front of him instead of dwelling on what lay beneath them... or rather, on the young man currently getting dressed in the other room.
Marcus finished changing into a pair of fitted black jeans and a loose white button-up shirt, carefully avoiding eye contact with his bodyguard as he walked out of the bedroom and into the living room where Gianni was still sitting at the desk. He cleared his throat nervously before taking a seat on the couch opposite him. "So... now what?"
"Now," Gianni said, setting aside his paperwork and looking up at him with an unreadable expression on his face, "you can tell me why it was so important to sneak out tonight." There was no mistaking the underlying challenge in his voice.
He tapped a finger against the desktop thoughtfully as he waited for Marcus' response. In truth, he wanted nothing more than to take him back over his lap right now and finish what they'd started earlier... but duty called. Duty and control - something he was finding increasingly difficult to maintain at the moment.
"I... I wanted to have some fun..." Marcus admitted, his face flushing slightly as he looked down at the floor. "I just... I don't want to be cooped up in here all night." He paused, then added softly, "Can't we maybe find something else for me to do?"
"Fun? You call sneaking out and putting yourself in danger 'fun'?" Gianni asked incredulously, pushing back his chair and standing up to pace across the room. His tail lashed once behind him before curling tightly around itself, as if holding back a surge of anger. "You think this is a game? Your safety is not something you get to decide on a whim!"
His mood darkening further at the thought that Marcus would even consider risking everything just for some "fun," Gianni turned away and walked to the window, staring out into the night as he tried to regain control over his emotions. "Fine," he said after a moment, his voice quieter now. "We'll find something for you to do... but no more sneaking out, understand?"
He didn't dare turn around to look at Marcus, afraid of what might happen if he saw the hurt in those hazel eyes. "Stay near me from now on. I won't let anything happen to you."
Marcus lowered his gaze, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "...understood..." he whispered softly, standing up. "...I'll be in my room..." he said listlessly, before leaving the room.
Gianni didn't move for several long minutes after Marcus left the living room, his mind racing with conflicting emotions as he struggled to keep himself under control. Finally, with a deep breath, he turned away from the window and headed back to his desk. He needed to focus on the task at hand - making sure that Marcus stayed safe, both from physical danger and from himself.
With trembling hands, he picked up where he'd left off earlier, trying to bury himself in work to forget about how badly he wanted the younger man beneath him once more... even though he knew it was useless. The heat was already burning too brightly; soon enough he'd have no choice but to claim Marcus.
The thought sent a shiver down his spine as adrenaline coursed through his veins, making him feel both exhilarated and terrified at the same time. He gritted his teeth and forced himself to focus on something else - anything else - in an attempt to ignore the unstoppable tide of desire that threatened to engulf them both.
Marcus wandered through the enormous mansion, his gaze slightly lost in thought. Despite saying he would be in his room, the idea was boring. He sighed, a mixture of annoyance and sadness in his voice. "...I hate being cooped up..." he muttered to himself, walking slowly down the hallways.
As if sensing Marcus' restlessness, Gianni stepped out of his office and found the younger man idly wandering through one of the many hallways in the mansion. He frowned, unsure whether he should be relieved or frustrated that Marcus hadn't taken up residence in his room as ordered.
"Marcus," Gianni said gruffly, approaching him. "You know you're not supposed to be out here alone." There was an unspoken accusation in his voice, even though he knew it wasn't entirely Marcus' fault. The heat was making them both irrational.
Marcus frowned slightly. "Nothing's going to happen to me... I'm still trapped inside the safety of the mansion, right?" he said, slightly annoyed.
"The safety of the mansion doesn't mean there won't be other dangers, amore," Gianni said softly as he gently cupped the younger man's cheek with one hand, his thumb stroking across Marcus' skin. "You know that." There was a pleading look in his eyes, hoping Marcus would understand.
He wanted nothing more than to take Marcus back into his room and claim him once again, but he knew it wasn't the right time or place. They needed to find something else for Marcus to do... anything to keep them both occupied and out of trouble.
Marcus gently removed Gianni's hand from his face. "Whatever..." he said weakly, slightly annoyed. He turned away. "...I'll go to the lounge... and stay there..." he said listlessly. "...you can go back to your work now..." he said, walking away from the other man.
Gianni sighed heavily, rubbing his eyes as he watched Marcus walk away. He wanted nothing more than to forget about duty and restraint and just take Marcus right here and now, but he knew that wasn't an option. At least not yet... perhaps after the heat passed. With a shake of his head, Gianni forced himself back into his office, deciding to focus on work until they could find something else for Marcus to do. Something safe... something sane.
Marcus muttered curses and profanities as he walked to the living room, annoyed at not being able to go outside. Upon arriving, he stood in the doorway, looking inside, sighing in frustration at the realization that he would be bored no matter where in the immense mansion he was. He entered the living room and sat on the bench in front of the piano, staring at the keys, gently running a finger over them without making a sound. "...Damn it..." he muttered to himself, before softly playing a melody on the piano. All the time his father had forced Marcus to learn piano had finally served a purpose, despite his dismay. To an ordinary person, it was a simple melody, but to someone who knew music, they could hear how the melancholic tone gradually shifted to one of annoyance and frustration, expressing all of Marcus's emotions without a single word.
Despite his focus on work, Gianni couldn't help but be drawn to the sound of Marcus playing the piano in the other room. The melancholic tune slowly shifted, becoming more and more agitated as it echoed through the mansion. He listened intently, feeling a mix of sympathy and annoyance for his young charge.
After several long minutes, Gianni pushed back his chair and stood up, walking toward the living room to see what was troubling Marcus so much. As he entered the room, he found the younger man seated on the bench, playing the piano with an intensity that belied his usual graceful demeanor.
"Marcus," Gianni said softly, moving to stand beside him. "What's wrong?" He couldn't help but notice how tightly Marcus was gripping the keys and wondered if he should offer to massage his aching hands afterward... or perhaps use them for another purpose entirely.
Marcus pounded the piano keys with both fists, causing the instrument to emit a horrible sound. He gritted his teeth. "Nothing's happening... I'm still here... locked up... in the living room... like I said..." he said irritably, without turning to look at the other man. Marcus was annoyed and completely bored; his fingers ached slightly from striking the piano with such anger.
"I know it's not ideal," Gianni admitted, resting his hand on Marcus' shoulder in what he hoped was a comforting gesture. "But there are worse things out there than being stuck inside this mansion, safer than you could ever be." He glanced around the room before returning his gaze to Marcus, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "And besides, I'm here with you. Nothing will happen to you while I'm around."
He hesitated for a moment, then added softly, "Unless... you want something else to do?" A dangerous thought crossed his mind; perhaps letting Marcus take control would help ease some of the tension between them... but he quickly dismissed it. No, that was too risky, even with the heat upon him. For now, he'd have to content himself with being near Marcus, however frustrating it might be for both of them.
Marcus removed Gianni's hand from his shoulder. "Don't you have any work to do?" he said, slightly annoyed, without looking at the man. He rubbed his fingers, easing the pain from playing the piano so hard.
"I've been working," Gianni said with a shrug. "But I can take a break if you need something to do." He looked around the room again, trying to think of something that might keep Marcus occupied and out of trouble. His gaze settled on a bookcase along one wall, filled with various board games and other diversions.
"Why don't we play a game?" he suggested, leading Marcus over to the bookshelf. "It might help take your mind off... things." He ran his hand through his hair, feeling frustrated but determined not to lose control. They couldn't afford for him to snap now; not while they were still so close to the full moon.
"What do you feel like playing?" he asked, gesturing to the many options before them. "There's chess... or Monopoly..." He trailed off, suddenly feeling self-conscious about his suggestion. Perhaps that one wasn't such a good idea after all...
"I'm not interested..." Marcus said weakly. "...I'm fed up with these stupid games..." he said, beginning to play the piano softly. "...and with this stupid piano too..."
Gianni frowned as he listened to Marcus play the same melancholic tune over and over again. He understood his frustration, but felt a pang of sadness at the thought that the only way Marcus seemed able to express himself was through music.
"Hey," Gianni said gently, putting a hand on Marcus' shoulder once more. "Can we please try something else? Just for a little while?" He smiled reassuringly, hoping to coax Marcus into at least trying another activity. The full moon was drawing closer with each passing hour; he didn't have much time left to keep control of his emotions and desires.
"Maybe there's something else you'd like to do..." he suggested, glancing around the room again before returning his attention to Marcus. "We could watch a movie, or play a video game... or even take a nap together if you're really that tired." He smiled, hoping one of these options would appeal to the younger man.
"...I'm not interested." Marcus said coldly, playing a slow song on the piano.
Despite his best efforts to keep calm and collected, Gianni felt a flash of anger spark within him at Marcus' insolence. He took a deep breath, forcing the emotion down before it could get out of control. "Look," he said slowly, placing both hands on Marcus' shoulders this time, "you need to understand that I'm only trying to help here. This isn't about me, or what I want to do. It's about keeping you safe, until your father gets back."
He waited for a few moments, watching as Marcus' expression softened slightly. "So," he continued more gently, "please, tell me something you'd like to do. We can try that instead of just sitting here, getting on each other's nerves all day." A sly grin tugged at the corner of his mouth as he said it, hoping Marcus might take the bait and suggest something... else.
Marcus frowned slightly, still playing the piano. "I didn't ask for your help," he said, slightly annoyed, beginning to strike the keys forcefully. "I'm not at the party anymore..." He frowned even more. "...and you already punished me..." he said, feeling a small twinge of pain in his rear end at the memory of the spanking. "I'm already locked in the mansion's security again..." His voice grew more angry as he struck the piano with increasing fury. "...I don't want anything from you!" he said angrily. "Can't you just leave me alone?" he shouted angrily, before pounding the piano keys with his fists.
"Marcus," Gianni said firmly, his voice not wavering despite the flash of anger that passed through him at the younger man's outburst. "You are in danger right now. Whether you like it or not, I am your protector. It is my duty to keep you safe, even if that means spending every moment of the day and night by your side."
He paused, trying to find the right words to make Marcus understand without sounding overbearing. "You are part of this family now," he continued gently, "and as such, I will not allow anything to happen to you while I am in charge." He placed his hand on Marcus' shoulder again, hoping that the gesture would convey some of the sincerity and concern behind his words. "Please, trust me when I say that I only want what is best for you."
There was a long silence as Gianni waited for Marcus to respond. Finally, the younger man stopped playing the piano and looked up at him with reddened eyes. He didn't seem angry anymore; in fact, he seemed more tired and defeated than anything else. It was almost heartbreaking to see.
"Okay..." Marcus whispered softly. "Let's... let's watch a movie." He paused before adding, almost as an afterthought: "If that's what you want to do."