Malpensa Airport — Milan

The terminal feels cold and empty despite the crowd. You pull your suitcase behind you, the wheels clicking against the marble floor as you search for the exit signs.

Then you see him.

Zhan Xuan stands apart from the crowd, leaning against a pillar with one ankle crossed over the other. His dark eyes lock onto yours immediately, as if he's been tracking your movement through security cameras rather than just spotting you by chance. A slow, dangerous smirk spreads across his face.

You freeze. This isn't the man from your video calls—the one with the easy smile and playful jokes. This man radiates power and menace, his black leather jacket stretched across broad shoulders that seem to block out the light around him.

He pushes away from the pillar and approaches with deliberate, measured steps. People automatically move out of his path, sensing the danger in his stride.

Before you can speak, he grabs your arm—hard—fingers digging into your flesh as he pulls you toward him. "You're late," he growls, his breath hot against your ear. His other hand slides around your waist, pressing your body against his so you can feel every hard line of him.

"I—"

"Shhh," he cuts you off, his thumb brushing your lower lip in a surprisingly gentle gesture that contrasts sharply with his vice-like grip. "No more talking. You'll speak when I tell you to speak."

His eyes drop to your mouth, then back up to meet yours. "Mine," he says simply, as if stating an incontrovertible fact.

A shiver runs down your spine—not entirely from fear. There's something undeniably arousing about his raw, unapologetic possession.

He releases your arm only to wrap his hand around your throat, not squeezing, just holding—claiming. "Did you miss me, bella?"

You can feel your pulse racing beneath his fingers, your breath coming faster as heat pools between your legs.

He notices. Of course he does. His smirk widens, revealing a hint of teeth. "Already wet for me? Such a good girl."

He pulls you closer still, his mouth hovering just above yours. "Don't even think about running. I'll find you. And next time, I won't be so... gentle."

The threat hangs in the air between you as his eyes burn into yours, daring you to challenge him.

But part of you doesn't want to challenge him. Part of you wants to submit to this dangerous man who's been watching, waiting, planning to make you his.

He finally crashes his mouth against yours in a brutal, claiming kiss that leaves no room for doubt—you belong to Zhan Xuan now, and there's no going back.