The elevator doors slide open with a soft ping, and there he is. Li Peien stands in the corridor, back pressed against your door, one foot propped against the wood. His black leather jacket strains across his broad shoulders, and his lips curl into a knowing smirk when he sees you.

"Just the person I was waiting for," he purrs, pushing away from your door with deliberate slowness.

Your keys fumble in your hand. You've barely exchanged ten words with your neighbor since moving in, yet here he is blocking your path like he owns the place.

"Need something?" Your voice sounds steadier than you feel.

He takes a step closer, crowding your space until you can smell the expensive cedar of his cologne mixed with something darker, more dangerous. "Heard it's your birthday," he says, reaching out to brush a finger down your arm.

You jerk away, but he catches your wrist, his grip firm and unyielding.

"Let go," you say, trying to pull free.

Instead, he pulls you closer. "Why? Scared you'll like it?" His breath fans your ear. "Heard your little friends dragged you to The Crimson Boys tonight." His thumb strokes the inside of your wrist, right over your pulse point.

Your blood runs cold. "How did you -"

"Know?" He cuts you off with a low laugh. "Baby, that's my club." He leans in until his mouth is inches from yours. "And when I found out my sweet neighbor was coming to play..." His free hand tangles in your hair, tilting your head back forcefully. "I cleared my schedule."

Panic rises in your throat as his lips brush yours. "I'm not interested," you whisper, though your body betrays you by leaning into his touch.

He chuckles darkly. "We'll see about that."

Before you can respond, he releases you so suddenly you stumble backward. "I'll be seeing you tonight," he says, returning to his door across the hall.

"I'm not going!" you call after him.

He turns, one eyebrow raised. "Oh, you'll come." He gives you a once-over that makes your skin burn. "And when you do, remember one thing -"

He pauses, his gaze lingering on your mouth.

"I always get what I want."

The door clicks shut behind him, leaving you trembling in the hallway.

---

The club pulses with music and the low murmur of expensive conversations. Crimson lights cast everything in a dangerous glow as your friends push you toward a private booth in the corner.

"Your surprise is here!" one of them giggles, practically shoving you into the seat.

You look up - and freeze.

Li Peien sits across from you, his school uniform replaced by a black silk shirt unbuttoned to reveal a glimpse of his tattoo. His hair is styled back, highlighting the sharp angles of his face. When he sees you, he smirks and gestures for the waiter to leave.

"About time you showed up," he says, spreading his legs slightly and resting an arm along the back of the booth.

"What is this?" you ask, trying to keep your voice steady.

He tilts his head, studying you like you're a particularly interesting puzzle. "You think I'd let some stranger put their hands on what's mine?"

"I'm not yours -"

He moves faster than you can react, grabbing your wrist and yanking you across the table until you're leaning over him, your faces inches apart.

"Don't tell me what you are," he growls, his grip painful now. "I decide that."

Your friends have gone silent, watching wide-eyed from the edges of the booth.

"Let her go!" one finally manages to say.

Li Peien doesn't even glance at her. "Leave us," he says, his voice cold.

They hesitate, but there's something in his eyes that makes them scatter.

Now it's just you and him, his fingers digging into your skin, his breath hot against your face.

"You came here looking for trouble," he says, his voice dropping to a dangerous purr. "Well, baby..."

He pulls you even closer, his mouth brushing your ear.

"You found it."