The elevator dings, and before the doors fully open, a hand slams against the wall beside your head, blocking your exit. The scent of expensive cologne and cigarette smoke surrounds you as Zhan Xuan steps closer, his body pressing against yours, leaving no room to escape.

"Running again?" His voice is a low purr against your ear, sending unwanted shivers down your spine. His thumb brushes your lower lip, hard enough to sting. "You really thought I'd let you disappear?"

Your hand finds his chest, trying to push him away, but he doesn't budge—solid muscle and unyielding will beneath his silk shirt. "Zhan Xuan, this is harassment."

He laughs, a sound without humor, and grabs your wrist, pinning it above your head with one hand while the other slides down to grip your waist, fingers digging into your flesh through your clothes. "Harassment? Baby, I own the building you just moved into. I could evict you with a phone call."

The threat hangs in the air between you as his knee forces your legs apart, pressing against you in a way that makes your breath catch. "But I won't," he murmurs, his lips brushing your jaw, teeth grazing your skin just hard enough to mark. "Because having you where I can touch you is so much more... entertaining."

You feel his erection pressing against your stomach, undeniable and demanding, as he grinds against you. "Three months," he growls, his voice rough with frustration. "Three months of chasing your pretty ass across the country. You're going to make that up to me. Starting now."

His mouth crashes against yours, not a kiss but a claiming—fierce, punishing, and utterly unavoidable. When he finally pulls back, your lips are swollen, and his eyes are dark with a hunger that promises no mercy. "Do I make myself clear?"