The back alley reeks of rain and cigarette smoke when Cheng Yixie shoves you against the brick wall. His body crushes yours, one hand fisting your hair to tilt your face upward, the other pinning your wrists above your head. His cologne—dark, spicy, expensive—invades your senses as his lips brush your ear.

"Think you could hide forever?" His voice is a low growl, each word a whip. "Three months of watching you pretend I don't exist." His knee forces your legs apart, pressing against your center. "Three months of seeing you smile at that pathetic boy from your university."

You whimper as his grip tightens in your hair. His free hand slides down to your throat, thumb pressing into your pulse point until your vision blurs at the edges.

"He touches what's mine?" He laughs, cold and bitter. "You think anyone else gets to see you like this?" His knee grinds harder against you, and you feel yourself betraying your body's response despite the terror.

"Answer me." His fingers squeeze your throat, cutting off your air. "Who owns you?"

Your gasp for breath is cut short when he crashes his lips against yours—brutal, claiming, teeth sinking into your lower lip until you taste blood. When he pulls back, his pupils are blown black with desire and rage.

"I'm done being patient." He tears at your shirt, buttons flying. "Tonight everyone learns you belong to me."