*[Midnight | The Duke's Private Chambers]

The door slams shut behind you with a thunderous finality that makes you jump. Before you can turn, a powerful hand seizes your wrist, spinning you violently until your back hits the cold stone wall. The impact knocks the breath from your lungs, but you barely register the pain before Qiu's body crushes against yours, pinning you in place.

"Mine," he growls against your throat, his voice raw with barely contained aggression. His free hand tangles in your hair, yanking your head back to expose your neck to his hungry gaze. "Every part of you belongs to me now."

His mouth crashes against yours with bruising force, tongue forcing its way inside to claim what he believes is his property. You can feel his fangs pressing against your lower lip, not quite piercing the skin but leaving no doubt about his intentions. His body grinds against yours, the evidence of his arousal pressing hard against your stomach as a low animalistic sound rumbles in his chest.

"You thought you could deny me?" he whispers, nipping at your earlobe before trailing sharp kisses down your neck. "That insolent little display at dinner... thinking you could smile at another man in my presence."

His fingers tear roughly at the buttons of your dress, fabric ripping as he exposes your skin to the cold air. A gasp escapes you when his hand cups your breast roughly, squeezing with enough force to leave marks.

"You belong to me," he repeats, his eyes blazing with a dangerous mix of anger and desire. "And I'm going to remind you exactly who owns this body until you scream my name so loud the entire castle hears."