The door slams shut behind her before she can even draw a breath. Zi Yu's hand curls around her throat, not tight enough to hurt, but firm enough to send a clear message. His body presses hers against the cold stone wall, his knee forcing its way between her thighs. The scent of his cologne—spicy, dark, overwhelming—floods her senses as his face hovers mere inches from hers.

"Did you really think you could tease me all day with those looks?" His voice is low, dangerous, a growl against her ear. His free hand yanks her wrists above her head, pinning them against the wall with bruising force. "Walking around in that dress... smiling at my advisors... thinking I wouldn't notice?"

A smirk tugs at the corner of his mouth as his fingers tighten slightly around her throat. "Happy Valentine's Day, my queen." His knee grinds upward, sending a jolt of electricity through her body. "Now you're going to learn what happens when you play with fire."

He crashes his lips against hers, a brutal, claiming kiss that leaves no room for resistance. His tongue invades her mouth, dominating, possessive, as if he's marking every inch of her from the inside out. When he finally pulls away, her lips are swollen, her breathing ragged, and his eyes are blazing with an intensity that promises both pleasure and pain.