Silas into the dimly lit penthouse as the elevator opened. He stepped inside, loosening his tie with one hand while his gaze swept the open-plan living area.
The faint scent of something burnt lingering in the air—charred and acrid.
His lips curved into a slow, dangerous smile. Someone had been busy.
He moved silently toward the dining table, where Sylvain sat slumped forward, head pillowed on his folded arms. The bowl of ramen and mug of hot chocolate sat untouched beside him.
Sylvain's breathing was deep and even, his face relaxed in sleep for the first time in days. Peaceful. Vulnerable.
Entirely at Silas's mercy.
Silas stopped directly in front of him, towering over the sleeping man. For a long moment, he simply stared down, drinking in every detail: the way his lashes cast delicate shadows on his cheeks, the slight parting of his lips. The burnt smell mixed with the faint sweetness of chocolate created an oddly intimate atmosphere.
Silas reached out, his fingers trailing lightly over Sylvain's face—first along the curve of his cheekbone, then brushing across his closed eyelids with feather-light touches.
He leaned down, nose hovering just above Sylvain's skin, inhaling the warm, slightly salty scent of him.
He deliberately moved lower, pressing the softest of pecks to the corner of Sylvain's eye, then to the bridge of his nose, and finally to his lips. The kisses were small, savoring—gentle in a way that felt almost tender, yet possessive. He stayed on the lips, tasting the faint remnants of chocolate and the unique flavor that was purely Sylvain.
Sylvain stirred under the repeated light taps on his shoulder. His eyes snapped open with a start, widening in shock when he found Silas's face mere inches away.
He jerked backward, nearly toppling the chair, heart slamming against his ribs. The proximity sent a fresh wave of fear through him.
"Si-Silas…" he stammered, voice hoarse from sleep. His mind immediately raced to the ramen. The evidence of his failure still hanging faintly in the air. "I… I prepared ramen for you. And hot chocolate. Please… eat."
Silas straightened slowly, eyes never leaving Sylvain's face. He reached out and touched the bowl with two fingers. The noodles were stone cold, the broth congealed and bland after sitting for so long. A low growl rumbled from deep in Silas's chest, followed by a dark, heavy laugh that sent chills down Sylvain's spine.
"You were planning on killing me with this?" Silas asked, voice laced with mocking amusement. "A cold burnt tasteless ramen? How thoughtful."
Sylvain's face paled. He slid off the chair and dropped to his knees on the hard floor without hesitation, head bowed low. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean to. It was an accident. I got distracted and forgot. Please, Silas… I dare not try to harm you. Please don't—"
His mind raced desperately to his brother. Leon's face flashed behind his eyes. One wrong move and Silas could end everything with a single phone call. The fear clawed at his throat, making his voice tremble. "I'll do better. Anything. Just… please don't punish my brother for my mistake."
Silas looked down at the kneeling man, dark satisfaction gleaming in his eyes. "Are you really that dumb? You don't know that ramen or noodles turn cold and bland when left sitting for a long time? Your rich lifestyle never taught you to cover a meal if you're not ready to eat it immediately?"
He reached down, gripping Sylvain's arm and pulling him roughly to his feet. Before Sylvain could steady himself, Silas leaned in and sank his teeth into the soft flesh of Sylvain's shoulder. Sylvain gasped sharply, pain blooming hot and immediate.
"Do you remember the time you bit me?" Silas murmured against the skin, his voice laced with anger. "All because you were trying to throw away my lunch box and I was pulling it back from you? You bit my shoulder so hard it bled. I still have the scar."
He bit down again, deeper this time, teeth breaking skin. Sylvain cried out, waves of sharp pain radiating through his body as fresh tears spilled down his cheeks. "Please… Silas… it hurts… I'm sorry…"
Silas finally released him after a liquid touched his lips, pulling back to taste the metallic tang of blood on his tongue. The sight of the fresh bite mark—red and already bruising—sent a dark thrill through him.
Without warning, he grabbed Sylvain's face and kissed him with urgent, bruising force. The kiss was possessive and demanding. Sylvain whimpered into it, hands clutching Silas's shirt for balance.
When Silas finally pulled away, he shoved Sylvain back toward the dining chair. "Sit. Eat the food and drink the hot chocolate. All of it. Now."
Sylvain's hands shook as he obeyed. The ramen was cold, soggy, and nearly flavorless, but he forced every bite down, swallowing past the tightness in his throat.
The hot chocolate had gone lukewarm and slightly bitter, but he drained the mug to the last drop, eyes stinging with unshed tears. Silas watched the entire time, arms crossed and his expression unreadable.
When the bowl and mug were empty, Silas nodded once. "Go to bed and wash up. I'm going in to rest."
Sylvain rose on shaky legs, relief mixing with dread. As soon as Silas turned and headed toward the master bedroom, Sylvain rushed to the guest room. The moment the door closed behind him, he bolted to the bathroom, dropping to his knees in front of the toilet.
His stomach rebelled violently, and he vomited everything he had just forced himself to eat—cold noodles and the chocolate.
When his stomach finally emptied, he flushed the toilet and rinsed his face with cold water, staring at his pale reflection in the mirror.
Tears streamed down his cheek.
He slid down to the cold tile floor, back against the wall, and curled his knees to his chest. He cried silently in the dark, wondering how much more of himself he would lose under Silas's hold.