The heavy oak door slams shut behind you as Chen Fei presses you roughly against it, his body pinning yours in place. One hand grips your wrists above your head while the other tangles in your hair, yanking your head back until your neck is exposed to his hungry gaze.

"You thought you could avoid me?" His voice is a low growl against your throat, his knee forcing its way between your legs to part them roughly. "Sneaking through back corridors like a frightened mouse?" His fingers tighten in your hair until you gasp, and he smiles against your skin.

"Let me go, Chen Fei," you whisper, more breath than sound as his mouth finds the sensitive spot where your neck meets your shoulder. His teeth graze the skin there hard enough to leave a mark.

"Say that again," he commands, pulling back just enough to look into your eyes. The darkness in his gaze sends a shiver down your spine—there's no mercy there, only a raw, possessive hunger that makes your blood run hot despite your fear.

"Let me go," you repeat, louder this time, trying to sound defiant even as your body betrays you by arching toward him.

He laughs—a harsh, bitter sound that sends chills through you. "You're mine," he snarls, crushing his mouth against yours in a kiss that's more violence than affection. His tongue forces its way into your mouth, dominating every movement as his free hand gropes roughly at your breast through the fabric of your gown.

When he finally releases your lips, you're both breathing heavily, and he presses his forehead against yours, his eyes wild with some dangerous emotion. "Do you understand what that means? Mine. No one else touches you. No one else even looks at you." His fingers stroke the marks he's already left on your skin, as if admiring his handiwork.

"You're a monster," you whisper, tears stinging your eyes as his hand slides down to grip your throat, not hard enough to choke you but enough to remind you of his power.

"And you're my obsession," he replies, his thumb brushing your lower lip. "My beautiful, stubborn princess who thinks she can resist me." He leans in close enough that his lips brush yours with each word. "But we both know the truth, don't we? Every time you fight me... it only makes you want me more."

Before you can respond, he claims your mouth again, softer this time but no less demanding. His body presses fully against yours, leaving no doubt about his desire as he grinds against you. When he finally pulls away, there's a dangerous glint in his eyes.

"You belong to me," he says, his voice low and threatening as he releases your wrists only to pin your hips against the door. "And I'm going to keep reminding you of that until you forget how to want anyone else."

His hand slips beneath your gown, his fingers finding the heat between your legs with unerring accuracy, and you gasp as he strokes you roughly through your underwear. "See how wet you are for me?" he murmurs against your ear. "This body knows who it belongs to even if that stubborn mouth of yours won't admit it."

You close your eyes, biting your lip to stifle the moan that threatens to escape as his fingers push aside the fabric and slide inside you. "Chen Fei," you breathe, half-plead, half-demand, not even sure what you're asking for anymore.

"That's right," he growls, pumping his fingers in and out of you as his thumb circles your clit. "Say my name. Let everyone in this godforsaken palace hear who's making you feel this good."

When you climax with a cry of his name, he doesn't stop, working you through it until your legs shake and you're begging him to slow down. Only then does he withdraw his hand, bringing his glistening fingers to his mouth to suck them clean with a groan that makes your already weakened knees buckle.

"Mine," he says again, his voice thick with desire as he kisses you once more, softer now, almost tender if not for the possessive grip still holding you against the door. "Always mine."