Chapter 40 Exposed Looms
Dante POV
That morning, the first thing I noticed was Alison’s smirk as she walked past the gym doors. She thought she had power. She thought her posts and whispers could shake things up. I let her think that for a moment, enjoying the thrill of knowing she was about to lose.
Max’s eyes followed me into the gym, sharp and alert. He had been bold lately, watching, waiting for a crack in my control. But today, he would find nothing. My plan was already in place, designed to leave Micah with only one choice: toward me.
Micah walked in, curls damp from his warm-up, shoulders tense from the rumors he didn’t fully understand. His eyes found mine almost immediately, and I smiled. That simple reaction, so natural, made my chest tighten. Every drill I had planned was meant to make him depend on me.
I called the team to the center of the gym. “Today we’re working on trust drills,” I said, keeping my voice calm. “Everyone participates.” My eyes held Micah’s just a little longer than normal. The subtle pressure in the room was enough. Every player could see who he belonged to.
We started the drills. I positioned myself across from him, making sure he stayed close. Hands brushed on the ball, on his hips, adjusting his shoulders. Each touch was a claim. Each glance reminded him that he couldn’t escape me.
Max tried to intervene. He stepped close, trying to talk to Micah. I leaned in, my hand on Micah’s back, whispering instructions only he could hear. Max froze, unsure, realizing he couldn’t touch what was mine. The team noticed the tension. Micah’s eyes followed me constantly, his movements anticipating mine. It wasn’t just coaching anymore. It was control, silent and complete.
I pushed him harder, circling him, correcting small details, praising only when he kept eye contact. His chest rose and fell quickly, sweat dripping down his forehead. And yet, he never looked away. That alone made heat crawl through me. Every step, every stumble, every heartbeat reminded me he was mine.
Alison lingered near the bleachers, phone half-hidden, smirking. I let my gaze fall on her for a moment, slow and deliberate. She flinched. Just one look, and her confidence faltered. She had crossed the wrong line.
Max approached again, trying to speak in front of the team. I didn’t raise my voice. I stayed calm, shutting him down slowly, deliberately. Everyone could see the shift. Max stepped back, careful now. He understood I wasn’t just obsessed—I was untouchable.
Then came the moment I had waited for. Micah stumbled slightly during a pivot. I was there immediately, hand steadying his waist, fingers brushing his hip. He inhaled sharply, startled. I leaned in, under the pretense of checking his shoulder. Heat rose between us, and he shivered slightly. The brief touch of my lips to his shoulder made him freeze. His eyes widened, a soft gasp caught in his throat.
The rest of the team noticed, but it didn’t matter. The moment belonged to us. Micah’s hand hovered near mine, hesitant, unsure. I let him feel the pull, the control, the claim I had been building since day one. He trembled slightly under my gaze. Fear, trust, and desire mixed in him, and it made me smile. Every drill after that was filled with the same tension. Each touch, each look, each word reminded him he needed me. And I made it clear, without words, that his safety and his focus came from staying with me.
His dependence was total, and I loved it. After practice, I followed him to the locker room, hand resting lightly on his back. Alison and Max were gone or powerless. Micah’s eyes met mine, wide, a little unsteady. I smiled slightly, knowing he understood the rules now. He leaned into me, almost without thinking. Every shiver, every quick breath, every glance, it belonged to me.
As he walked into the locker room, I whispered close to his ear, under the pretense of checking a bruise. His shiver was my reward. The rest of the day, every movement, every touch, every glance reinforced that he moved at my command. Anyone who thought they could interfere would learn fast. Max’s anger and Alison’s smirks didn’t matter anymore.
As we left the gym, side by side, my hand lingered just a second longer than needed. He didn’t pull away. His trust, his trembling, his desire, it was mine. And anyone who tried to challenge that would pay. Quietly. Deliberately. Irresistibly. The line had been crossed. Exposure was near, but it didn’t scare me. It thrilled me. I had claimed him, and he knew it. He leaned slightly into me, breath uneven, eyes burning with trust and need. And I knew, without saying a word, he would always choose me.