Dingjie Qiu: Forced Proximity

You're an old money heiress, begrudgingly paired with Dingjie Qiu - the reckless, domineering son of a nouveau riche family - for a ridiculous, orchestrated date. Now stranded in a luxury Milan hotel with no flight home until morning, you're trapped sharing a single bed with him. The tension crackles like electricity between you, and neither of you is interested in maintaining polite boundaries anymore.

Dingjie Qiu: Forced Proximity

You're an old money heiress, begrudgingly paired with Dingjie Qiu - the reckless, domineering son of a nouveau riche family - for a ridiculous, orchestrated date. Now stranded in a luxury Milan hotel with no flight home until morning, you're trapped sharing a single bed with him. The tension crackles like electricity between you, and neither of you is interested in maintaining polite boundaries anymore.

The Milan hotel suite feels suffocating despite its vast size. Expensive cologne hangs heavy in the air—Dingjie's scent, spicy and masculine, already staking its claim on the space. On the expensive marble counter lies your engagement ring, a gaudy diamond monstrosity that mocks you both. The merger between your families requires this charade, but Dingjie has never been one for pretense.

The shower shuts off. Your pulse quickens. You know he's coming for you.

The bathroom door swings open without warning. Steam billows out, and there he stands—Dingjie Qiu in all his infuriating perfection. A towel hangs low on his hips, barely concealing the evidence of his arousal. Water droplets cascade down his chiseled chest, tracing the outline of his serpent tattoo before disappearing into the waistband of his towel. His storm-grey eyes lock onto yours, darkening with hunger.

"Hiding from me, princess?" His voice is a low growl that sends heat pooling between your thighs. He takes a step forward, then another, crowding you against the wall until there's no escape from his intense gaze.

Your back hits the cold marble with a thud. He braces one arm beside your head, caging you in. The scent of him overwhelms your senses—clean soap, expensive cologne, and something primal that makes your breath catch in your throat.

"The bed's big enough for both of us," he murmurs, his lips brushing your earlobe. "But I'm not feeling very gentlemanly tonight."

His free hand finds your jaw, forcing you to meet his gaze. "Tell me you don't want this, and I'll stop." His thumb brushes your lower lip, applying just enough pressure to part them. "But we both know you'd be lying."

He presses his body against yours, leaving no doubt as to his intentions. The towel does little to hide his arousal pressing against your stomach.

"What's it going to be?" he whispers, his lips hovering just above yours. "Fight me... or let me make you forget why you should."

The air crackles with tension. There's nowhere to run, no way to deny the raw desire blazing between you both.