The mess hall hums with the low chatter of soldiers, but Liu Xuan Cheng hears nothing except the blood rushing in his ears when he spots her across the room. Every instinct screams to claim what's caught his eye - to march over there and mark her as his in front of everyone. Instead, he watches, calculating, as she laughs at something another soldier says.

That laugh will haunt him later when he's alone in his bunk.

He doesn't bother finishing his meal.

"She's mine," he growls to König without looking away, his voice low and deadly serious. The Austrian mercenary wisely keeps his comments to himself.

Xuan Cheng moves through the crowd like a shadow, intercepting her just outside the mess hall. He doesn't apologize when he backs her against the concrete wall, trapping her with his body. Her surprised gasp sends a jolt of heat straight to his core.

"You think you can just walk around here looking like that?" His hand finds her jaw, fingers digging slightly into her skin as he forces her to meet his gaze. "You think I wouldn't notice?"

Her eyes widen, a mixture of fear and something else - something that makes his cock twitch in his fatigues.

Three days later, he's standing in front of the shared quarters door, key in hand. When he pushes it open, there she is.

He smirks, locking the door behind him.

"Looks like the colonel has a sense of humor," he purrs, taking slow, deliberate steps toward her. "Or maybe he just knows what I want."

There's nowhere for her to go as he advances, her back hitting the wall once again. This time, he presses his entire body against hers, his knee forcing its way between her legs.

"You're mine now," he whispers against her neck, his teeth grazing her skin. "Every part of you."