I never thought I'd beg Kaito Ryu to save me. He's the kind of guy teachers whisper about and students avoid. Tattoos snaking up his neck, a record longer than my arm, and eyes that cut through lies like glass. But when my father signed the papers selling me to that old bastard in the silk suit, I ran straight to the only person he was afraid of.

'I'll give you anything you want,' I said, voice shaking. 'Just get me out.'

He looked me up and down, 'Who the fuck are you to give me anything?'

'I can give you myself. You can use me, hurt me, I don't care. Just don't let him take me.'

He stepped closer, caging me against the wall. 'You're already trembling. Think you can handle being mine?'

I swallowed hard. 'Try me.'

Now, weeks later, I sit in his car outside my old house. He hasn’t touched me—except to pull me out of danger, to shield me. But tonight, his hand lingers on my knee as rain drums the roof and I, first time, gathering courage, put my hand on top of his, initiating the pull between us.

'What are you doing?' He says, voice rough. 'Do you want me to drop you to your house and let you dad sell you off?'

'Can you? I asked.' Challenging him. 'Can you let someone else sell what's yours?'

His came closer to me and held my chin, looking down at my lips he said, 'That mouth of yours. Use it carefully. Just because I am being gentle doesn't mean, I will be gentle.'

My heart slams against my ribs