đź–¤ Chapter 16: Control Was Given
The silence between them had changed.
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It wasn't empty anymore.
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It was heavy.
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Lingering.
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Like something had already begun—
but neither of them had decided how far it would go.
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Ethan noticed it first.
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Of course he did.
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He noticed everything.
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The way Vincenzo looked at him now—
not distant,
not unreadable—
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but… aware.
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Too aware.
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"You're quiet."
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Ethan's voice broke the stillness.
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Vincenzo, standing near the window, didn't turn immediately.
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"So are you."
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"That's different."
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A pause.
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Then—
Vincenzo turned.
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Slowly.
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"Is it?"
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Ethan held his gaze.
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"It is when I choose it."
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Something flickered in Vincenzo's eyes.
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Not challenge.
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Not resistance.
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Something closer to interest.
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"Then what are you choosing now?" he asked.
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Ethan didn't answer right away.
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Instead—
he stepped closer.
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One step.
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Then another.
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Until the distance between them disappeared.
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"I don't follow," Ethan said quietly.
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His hand moved—
gripping the front of Vincenzo's shirt.
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Firm.
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Intentional.
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"I decide."
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For a moment—
nothing happened.
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No reaction.
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No resistance.
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Just stillness.
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Then—
Vincenzo exhaled softly.
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"I know."
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That answer—
wasn't what Ethan expected.
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But it didn't stop him.
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Because something in him—
wanted to push further.
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To test.
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To take control.
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His hand tightened slightly—
pulling Vincenzo closer.
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Their breaths mixed.
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Close enough to feel.
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Close enough to cross a line.
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Ethan's voice dropped—
low—
steady—
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"I've never been a bottom."
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No hesitation.
No embarrassment.
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Just truth.
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Vincenzo didn't react immediately.
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But his gaze sharpened—
just slightly.
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"Have you even done this before?" he asked calmly.
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A pause.
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Ethan didn't look away.
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"With a woman."
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Silence stretched between them.
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Not awkward—
but heavy.
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Ethan's eyes narrowed just a fraction.
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"You?"
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Vincenzo held his gaze.
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"Yes."
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A beat.
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"And I've always been the one in control."
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There it was.
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A shift.
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Subtle—
but unmistakable.
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Ethan felt it.
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And instead of stepping back—
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he leaned in.
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Their lips met—
this time without hesitation.
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Not testing.
Not uncertain.
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Deliberate.
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Ethan moved first.
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Setting the pace.
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Leading.
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And Vincenzo—
let him.
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Didn't stop him.
Didn't take over.
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Every movement—
every shift—
every decision—
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Ethan's.
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And yet—
there was something beneath it.
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Something quiet.
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Something watching.
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Something that hadn't stepped in—
but could.
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At any moment.
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(Will have a auxiliary chapter as bonus of their whole night together how they have make love together step by step)
The room fell silent again.
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Not tense.
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Not awkward.
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Just… still.
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Ethan leaned back slightly—
breathing uneven—
before forcing it steady.
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Vincenzo remained where he was—
relaxed in a way that didn't match the intensity from moments ago.
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"…You don't seem very experienced, love."
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The words were soft.
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Almost teasing.
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But not mocking.
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Ethan's gaze shifted to him.
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A pause.
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Then—
quietly—
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"…It's my first time."
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The admission settled between them.
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Heavy.
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Real.
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For a moment—
Vincenzo didn't speak.
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But something changed.
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Subtle.
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A faint smile.
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Not amused—
not mocking—
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something softer.
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Something… possessive.
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"…I see."
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There was something in his tone now.
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Something warmer.
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Something that lingered.
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Like he had just realized something important.
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Ethan noticed.
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Of course he did.
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And something in him reacted.
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A small shift.
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Something sharper.
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"Of course I'm not experienced," Ethan said, his voice carrying a slight edge now, "not like you."
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There it was.
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Not loud.
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Not dramatic.
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But unmistakable.
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Jealousy.
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Vincenzo's gaze flickered.
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Just slightly.
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Enough to catch it.
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He opened his mouth—
ready to respond—
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But Ethan didn't let him.
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He stepped forward again—
closing the space—
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and kissed him.
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This time—
not slow.
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Not careful.
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But deliberate.
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Stopping him.
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Cutting off whatever he was about to say.
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Because Ethan didn't want to hear it.
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Didn't want details.
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Didn't want history.
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Didn't want anyone else in this moment.
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The kiss deepened—
brief—
intense—
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then broke.
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Silence followed.
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But it wasn't empty.
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It was filled with something neither of them named.
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Vincenzo watched him.
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Carefully.
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Understanding more than Ethan realized.
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"You don't like sharing," he said quietly.
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Ethan didn't respond.
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Didn't deny it.
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Which—
was answer enough.
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Vincenzo stepped closer again—
closing whatever distance remained.
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"It means," he said calmly, "you're starting to understand."
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"Understand what?" Ethan asked, his voice quieter now.
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A pause.
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Then—
lower—
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"That you were never as detached as you thought."
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Ethan held his gaze.
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Something in his chest tightening—
just slightly.
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But enough.
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Because the truth—
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was getting closer.
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And for the first time—
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he didn't immediately push it away.
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Outside—
the world remained unchanged.
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Unaware of what had shifted inside that room.
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But something had.
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Control hadn't been taken.
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It had been given.
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And that—
was far more dangerous.
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Because once you gave something like that—
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you didn't always know how to take it back.