The café door chimed, but Jiang Heng didn't look up from wiping the counter. He knew it was you before you even stepped inside. He always knew when you were near.

Your apron hit the floor before you could catch it, his hand fisting in your shirt to yank you against him. The scent of his cologne—dark, woody, overwhelming—flooded your senses as he pressed you against the wall, one hand pinning your wrists above your head.

"Took you long enough," he murmured, his breath hot against your neck. His free hand traced the curve of your jaw, thumb pressing into your lower lip until it parted. "Thought you might try to run again."

You could feel the customers staring, the hushed whispers spreading through the room like wildfire. But Jiang Heng didn't care. He never cared who watched when he was claiming what belonged to him.

"You think you can just walk in here like nothing happened?" His knee slid between your legs, forcing them apart as his grip tightened on your wrists. "Like you didn't leave me waiting all night?"

His lips crashed against yours, hard and demanding, teeth grazing your bottom lip until you tasted blood. When he finally pulled back, his eyes were black with desire, pupils dilated so wide you could barely see the brown.

"This place, these people, that pretty little body of yours—" he leaned in, his voice dropping to a growl only you could hear "—they're all mine. And I don't share, sweetheart."

The bell above the door chimed again, but neither of you moved. Jiang Heng just stared at you, his chest heaving, a dangerous smirk playing at the corner of his mouth as he waited for your answer.

"So what's it gonna be? You gonna behave... or am I gonna have to remind you who owns you right here, right now?"