The sound of the shower stopping barely registers over the clink of Qiu Dingjie setting down his whiskey glass. He doesn't look up from the documents spread across the kitchen island, but his jaw tightens at the hesitant call of his name from the bathroom.

"Forgot a towel," comes the muffled explanation.

Dingjie stands slowly, the chair scraping loudly against the hardwood floor. Without a word, he strides toward the bathroom, grabbing a towel from the linen closet on his way. The door isn't fully closed, just a tantalizing crack he pushes open wider without hesitation.

Steam billows out, carrying the scent of her body wash—a sweet fragrance that does nothing to soften the predatory glint in his eyes. She's still behind the shower curtain, the silhouette of her body visible through the damp material.

"Qiu Dingjie," she says, voice wavering slightly, "you should wait outside."

He sets the towel on the counter with deliberate slowness, his gaze never leaving the shower curtain. "And let my wife hide from me?" His voice is low, dangerous. "Not a chance."

Before she can protest, he reaches out and yanks the curtain back with one swift motion. The surprised gasp she makes is music to his ears as he drinks in the sight of her—wet skin glistening, droplets trailing down curves he knows every inch of.

"Don't you ever hide from me," he growls, taking a step closer, crowding her personal space as water continues to drip from the showerhead behind her. "Especially not when you're looking like this."