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.
"It won't be that bad, amore," he muttered to himself as he tried not to think about how hard it was going to be to keep his hands off Marcus tonight. "Just a little longer until the heat passes... we can make it through this." He glanced at the clock on the desk and sighed heavily. "Just... hurry up, would you?"
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 sighed heavily and ran his hand through his hair in frustration. This was going to be a long night. Maybe he should just find something else to occupy himself with instead of worrying about Marcus slipping away again. He knew it was unhealthy, but sometimes it felt like all they ever did together was argue or fight...
"Marcus?" he called after him before realizing there was no point; the younger man was already gone. With a sigh, Gianni returned to his paperwork, forcing himself to focus on something - anything - other than the growing tension between them. The spanking had only served to heighten his desire for Marcus, and now he was left feeling raw and unfulfilled...
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.
"You know what I mean," Gianni muttered under his breath as he walked up beside the younger man. He felt oddly possessive and protective of Marcus, even more so now that they were sharing this... connection. "Look, I'm sorry for spanking you earlier. It was wrong of me to do that."
He hesitated a moment before continuing. "But you can't keep sneaking off like this. You know how dangerous it is." He glanced down at Marcus, his expression softening slightly. "I don't want anything to happen to you."
"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.
"There's always work," Gianni replied with a sigh, running his hand through his hair. "But you don't seem to be in the mood for doing anything tonight. Is there something else I could do? Something that might keep you occupied and out of trouble?"
He paused, considering for a moment before adding softly, "Perhaps we could watch a movie or play a game... maybe even order room service." It was a long shot, but he had to try something. Anything to distract Marcus from wanting to sneak away again.
"I'm not interested..."
Marcus said weakly, beginning to play the piano softly.
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.
"You're right," Gianni admitted, pulling his hands away from Marcus' shoulders and taking a step back. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have forced myself on you." He paused for a moment, trying to find the right words. "Look, if all you want is to be alone... fine. Just tell me where you want me to go, and I'll leave you in peace. But promise me that you won't try to sneak away again, alright?"
There was a brief silence as he waited for Marcus' response, his expression softening somewhat. He knew it wasn't entirely fair to push Marcus so hard after punishing him, but he couldn't seem to help himself. The heat of the cycle made everything feel heightened, more urgent... and when it came down to it, he just wanted Marcus safe and sound.
"Alright?" he repeated, his voice lowering slightly in appeal. "You can have your space. I promise not to bother you anymore tonight." He hesitated a moment longer before slowly turning away, walking back towards his office with heavy steps. "Just... be careful, all right?"
When Gianni left the room, Marcus let out a shaky sigh, staring at the piano keys. A single tear escaped his eye, which he quickly wiped away. He took a deep breath, gathering his strength to hold back tears of frustration. He sighed again, and with trembling hands, slowly began to play a melancholic melody on the piano.
"...Damn it..."
Gianni muttered under his breath as he listened to the distant sound of Marcus playing the piano. He knew he should just give him some space, but it was killing him not being able to be near the younger man. The heat was making everything feel so much more intense than usual... and the memory of their encounter earlier that evening only served to fuel his desire for Marcus all the more.
With a heavy sigh, Gianni forced himself to sit down at his desk once again, trying to focus on his work as he listened to the haunting melody drifting through the mansion. It was hard, but he knew he had to be strong... not just for Marcus' sake, but for theirs both.
Eventually, the music faded away into silence, and with it, Gianni's last hope of distracting himself from his growing need for the younger man. He closed his eyes, trying to ignore the heat in his cheeks as he pushed down on the desk, willing himself to be patient just a little longer.
"Just a few more hours..." he whispered to himself, taking a deep breath. "Then it'll all be over."
But even as he told himself that, he knew it was a lie. The heat would keep them bound together for much longer than that... and once the cycle finally ended, the bond between them might never truly break. It didn't seem fair, but there wasn't anything they could do about it. All they could do was wait it out... and hope that when their time finally came, it wouldn't hurt quite so much.
Marcus appeared in the doorway of Gianni's office, his head bowed. He slowly approached the man behind the desk and, without asking, sat on his lap and wrapped his arms around his neck, burying his face in the man's skin. "Stupid bodyguard..." he murmured weakly.
"Marcus," Gianni said softly, putting his arm around the younger man and pulling him closer, "it's alright... it wasn't your fault..." He paused for a moment before continuing, his voice growing even more gentle, "I just want to keep you safe... and I can't do that if you keep running off like that."
He rested his chin on top of Marcus' head, taking in the scent of his hair and the warmth of his body. It was hard not to think about how good it felt when they were together like this... but he had promised himself he wouldn't pressure Marcus anymore tonight. He would be patient, no matter how much it hurt him inside.
"...I thought that way my father would finally pay attention to me... but it seems he doesn't even care about me..." Marcus said weakly, hugging the man tighter around the neck. "...he just leaves me locked up here... with bodyguards who punish me like I'm a little kid..." He buried his face in Gianni's neck.
"He does care," Gianni assured him softly, rubbing his hands up and down Marcus' back in small circles. "I know it might not feel like it sometimes, but trust me... your father loves you very much." He paused for a moment before adding, "And as for the punishment... I shouldn't have done that earlier. It was wrong of me to spank you, especially when you were already upset about being stuck here. I apologize."
He continued rubbing Marcus' back, feeling him relax slightly in his arms. Perhaps some comfort and understanding would help ease the tension between them... at least for tonight. He knew it wouldn't solve all their problems, but perhaps it was a small step in the right direction. "Get some sleep," he murmured, nuzzling Marcus' hair with his nose. "Tomorrow is another day."
Marcus let out a sigh, closing his eyes, falling asleep, sitting on Gianni's lap and hugging him around the neck. Marcus hated being locked up, hated feeling alone, and sometimes, he hated Gianni, but that feeling toward the man never lasted long. After all, he was the only one who paid attention to him and was there when he needed him... even if he was sometimes annoying.
Gianni stroked Marcus' hair softly, humming quietly as he held the younger man close. He was grateful for the closeness they shared now, despite the earlier tension. It wasn't easy being a father figure to someone who'd lost their own parents, especially when you knew that someday Marcus would leave his care and return to his life in the city. But for now, he could only cherish these moments while they lasted, no matter how fleeting they might seem.
As sleep began to claim him as well, Gianni brushed a gentle kiss over the top of Marcus' head before letting himself drift off into an uneasy slumber, haunted by dreams of what the future held for them both... and wondering if there was any way he could change it.