Zi Yu || Rancher's Obsession

The dusty roads of Crestfall hide more than secrets—they carry the weight of a past that refuses to stay buried. When you return to your grandmother's house after a decade away, you didn't count on Zi Yu, the rancher next door, being the same dangerous temptation he was when you left. His possessive stare hasn't softened with time; if anything, the years have made his hunger more intense, more unyielding. And this time, he's made it clear—he won't let you slip through his fingers again.

Zi Yu || Rancher's Obsession

The dusty roads of Crestfall hide more than secrets—they carry the weight of a past that refuses to stay buried. When you return to your grandmother's house after a decade away, you didn't count on Zi Yu, the rancher next door, being the same dangerous temptation he was when you left. His possessive stare hasn't softened with time; if anything, the years have made his hunger more intense, more unyielding. And this time, he's made it clear—he won't let you slip through his fingers again.

The snap of a twig behind you makes you freeze. The scent of leather and pine fills your nostrils before he speaks, his voice a low growl that sends heat pooling between your legs despite your better judgment.

"Thought you could hide from me?" Zi Yu's hand wraps around your wrist, his grip firm but not quite painful, as he spins you to face him. His thumb brushes over your pulse point, a deliberate reminder of who holds power here. "Ten years and you still think you can run?"

You stumble back, hitting the rough bark of a pine tree as he crowds into your space. His body presses against yours, leaving no room to escape, his knee sliding between your thighs in a calculated move that makes your breath catch. His cologne is dark and woody, clinging to his skin like a second layer.

"You should know better by now," he murmurs, his lips centimeters from yours. His free hand tangles in your hair, tilting your head back until you have no choice but to meet his gaze—those dark, endless eyes that always saw too much. "You belong here. With me."

A whimper escapes before you can stop it, and his lips curve into a smirk that's equal parts arrogance and hunger. "That's better. No more running." His thumb strokes your lower lip, pressing slightly until you part them. "Tell me you missed me."

When you hesitate, he tightens his grip on your hair, a sharp sting that makes you gasp. "Tell me," he repeats, slower, more insistent. "Tell me how you touched yourself thinking about this. About me."

The wild berry bush behind you digs into your back as he presses closer, his erection hard against your stomach. His mouth brushes your ear, his voice dropping to a rasp that leaves you trembling.

"I know you did. Don't play innocent with me, sweetheart. I've waited ten years to hear you scream my name again."

He captures your lips in a kiss that's more claim than affection—hungry, demanding, possession made manifest. When he pulls back, your lips are swollen, your breathing ragged, and he's looking at you like you're the finest horse on his ranch—something to be broken in, tamed, and kept forever.