Exclusively Yours – Episode 9

Riccardo’s POV

“Hello, Sunshine,” I greeted my scared little cat. Her terrified eyes filled me with excitement, momentarily causing me to forget that she had just slapped me. “How are you?”

“How am I?!” she exclaimed, chest rising and falling with each breath. “How am I supposed to be fine? Do you think this is funny, Riccardo? Are you trying to give me a heart attack?”

“Shh, baby,” I whispered, my fingers caressing her smooth face while I focused on her glossed lips. “Don’t be so dramatic.”

“Don’t touch me.” Olivia jerked my hand away, her eyes radiating anger. “You think I’m being dramatic?!”

“Shh, don’t yell. I told you I hàte it.”

She rolled her eyes and scoffed. “Well, I also hàte you, but here I am, right?”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

“Don’t make that sound.”

I smiled and gently took hold of her hand, leading her towards the real destination. Despite her attempts to break free from my grip, she failed miserably.

The walk to the date I had planned for us was only ten minutes away, but as I held her delicate hand in my rough one, I decided to prolong it by wandering around for a while.

She wouldn’t suspect a thing.

No matter how hard she tried, she wouldn’t forget this night. I would ensure it was etched in her memory, untainted by any interference.

Having a first date in the woods and scaring your girlfriend on that date was unconventional, but we were unique. My Olivia would remember this night for the rest of her life, just as I would.

I specifically chose this place for our date because I had stàlked Olivia enough to know everything about her. Whenever she was scared, she didn’t run away; instead, she investigated the source of her féar.

I wanted to witness that firsthand and relish in her feàr, as I was the only one allowed to scare her from now on. I may have been slapped for it, but at least SHE was the one who slapped me.

“My quiet haven,” I whispered in her ear as we stopped in front of a bungalow, her body shuddering from either the chilly air or my presence. “Shall we?”

The tall, sturdy trees stood guard in front of the house, acting as a natural barrier. The night animals serenaded us with their songs, creating a peaceful ambiance if one took the time to truly listen.

“I hàte you,” Olivia randomly remarked and made another attempt to retrieve her hand, but once again failed. “Can you let go of my hand?”

“Maybe if you ask nicely, I might,” I replied.

“Do you want to díe?”

“No.”

“Then let go of me.”

I couldn’t help but laugh at her threat. “And if I may ask, who would kíll me? You?” I scoffed and chuckled. “I highly doubt it.”

Olivia glared at me. “I’ll say it one more time, let me go.”

I didn’t comply. Instead, I waited to see her next move, narrowly avoiding another slap. I swiftly grabbed her wrist mid-air and gently twisted it behind her back, ensuring she felt no pain, before pushing her against the wall of the house. One hand held both her hands captive, while the other wrapped around her neck, applying just enough pressure to restrict her breathing.

I observed her as she struggled for breath, tears welling in her eyes and her lips parting. My gaze momentarily shifted to her lips before returning to meet her scared eyes.

“L-let… me… g-go… p-p-please,” her voice trembled, féar evident in her cracked voice.

A smirk played on my lips as I nodded once, my thumb tracing her bottom lip. “Now, that’s a good little girl.”

A tear slid down her cheek. “I-I can’t bre-breath…”

“Do you want to?”

I slightly loosened my grip on her neck, allowing her to nod frantically.

“Will you behave like the good girl I know you are?” I asked, piercing her with my gaze. She maintained eye contact, nodding again. “Okay.”

Olivia clutched her chest and took a deep breath, filling her lungs with much-needed air before passing out of her frantic.

“I’ll ask again, shall we?” I gestured towards the entrance of the house, and she nodded. “Good girl.”

                              ☆☆☆☆

I smiled, watching Olivia eat her food like the princess she was. Her legs crossed elegantly under the table, maintaining perfect posture and impeccable etiquette.

She was flawless on the outside, yet I suspected there might be flaws hidden within.

“Stop staring at me like that,” she muttered under her breath, swallowing her food.

“Why?” I inquired.

“It’s créepy,” she replied.

“How?”

“I don’t know, it just is.”

“Hmm.”

She took a sip of her red wine. “What?”

“Nothing.”

Olivia rolled her eyes yet again, cutting her steak into smaller pieces. “Who made this?”

“I did,” I responded.

Her eyes widened. “You made this?” I nodded. “By yourself.” I nodded once more. “Nah, I don’t believe you.”

“Why not?”

“I just don’t.”

“There must be a reason for not believing me, so what is it?”

She dropped her cutlery and fixed her gaze on me. “Apart from stàlking me, taking over my mom’s bakery, manipúlating me into marrying you, lying about our first date being fun, scaring me, and nearly chokíng me to deàth?”

“I didn’t chóke you to deàth. Clearly, you’re still alive.”

“The keyword there is ‘nearly,’ Riccardo,” Olivia retorted, and I couldn’t help but feel the urge to strañgle her again. “Stop.”

“What did I do?”

“That,” she pointed her fork at my eyes, “your eyes.”

“Yeah?” I encouraged her to continue.

“They darken whenever you have a nàsty idea,” she finished, picking up her glass of water and hastily finishing it in one gulp. “It scares me.”

“I won’t hurt you, sunshine.”

“And what do you call almost chokíng me to deàth?”

“Teaching you a lesson. And it seems you’re not a fast learner. I don’t like that.”

“You don’t like a lot of things.”

“But I love you.”

Olivia rolled her eyes and stood up. “Where’s the surprise you said you had in store for me?”

“Impatient much, Liv?”

She glared at me, and my smile wiped away her glare, replacing it with a scowl.

My girl was feisty. Terrified of me, yet determined to stand her ground. I admired that about her.

I love every aspect of her, even her vúlgar language.

TBC 📖✍️

Omo, which kind person is this Riccardo sef?