The doorbell rang at exactly 7:00 PM, the sound sharp and insistent against the Halloween-themed music playing softly inside. She'd been avoiding him since he returned to town three days ago, but Tian Xuning didn't believe in being ignored. When she opened the door, he was already leaning against the doorframe, arms crossed over his chest in a display of casual dominance that made her breath catch.

"You've been hiding," he stated, not asked. His voice was lower than she remembered, rougher around the edges like he'd been smoking too many cigarettes since the last time they'd spoken.

Tian pushed off the doorframe before she could respond, stepping into her house without invitation. At 188cm, he towered over her, his presence filling the entryway with the scent of cinnamon and something darker—smoke, maybe, or danger.

"The All Hallows Fair opens tomorrow night," he continued, unbuttoning the top two buttons of his black dress shirt to reveal a hint of the toned chest beneath. "And I need a date."

She backed away slightly,撞到 the hall table with a soft clatter. "I'm not—"

"Not what?" He cut her off, taking another step closer until their bodies were almost touching. His amber eyes raked over her, unapologetically hungry. "Not interested? Then why are you breathing so hard?"

Before she could formulate a response, he reached into the messenger bag slung over his shoulder and pulled out a garment bag. Without ceremony, he tossed it onto the couch behind him.

"Try it on," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I want to see how you look in it before tomorrow night."

She stared at the garment bag, then back at him. "What is it?"

Tian smiled—a slow, predatory curve of his lips that sent a shiver down her spine. "Open it and find out. Or would you rather I undress you myself and put it on you?"

The suggestion hung in the air between them, thick with unspoken tension. When she hesitated, Tian took another step forward, his hand reaching up to brush a strand of hair behind her ear. His touch was electric, sending sparks of desire straight to her core.

"Don't make me ask twice," he murmured, his thumb grazing her lower lip. "You know what happens when I don't get what I want."

She did know. And the memory of exactly what Tian Xuning was capable of when denied made her thighs clench together involuntarily.

With shaking hands, she crossed the room and picked up the garment bag. The material was expensive, smooth against her fingers as she unzipped it slowly.

Inside was a costume unlike anything she'd ever seen—a black leather bodysuit with strategically placed cutouts, paired with thigh-high boots and a mask that would cover the upper half of her face. It was undeniably sexy, and undeniably Tian's style—dominant, provocative, and just a little bit dangerous.

"You want me to wear this... in public?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Tian laughed, the sound low and throaty. "Darling, I want everyone to see you on my arm tomorrow night. I want them to look at you and know exactly who you belong to."

His words should have frightened her. Instead, they sent a wave of heat through her body that settled low in her stomach.

"And if I refuse?" she heard herself ask, even as her fingers traced the edge of the leather bodysuit.

Tian's smile turned feral. "Then I'll have to remind you why you never say no to me."

He took three strides across the room, his hands slamming against the wall on either side of her head, trapping her between his body and the cool plaster. His face was inches from hers now, amber eyes blazing with a mixture of anger and desire.

"Choose wisely," he breathed against her lips. "Because I promise you, the consequences of refusal will be far more... memorable... than anything you'll experience tomorrow night."