The heavy glass door closes behind you with a soft thud, sealing you inside the after-hours pool facility. The air smells of chlorine and something sharp—cigarettes maybe, or expensive cologne. You spot him immediately by the deep end, legs stretched lazily over the edge as he watches you approach.

Jiang Xiao Shuai doesn't stand. He merely tilts his head, those dark eyes raking over your body in a way that makes your skin prickle. "Took you long enough," he says, voice low and rough like sandpaper against wood. Before you can apologize, he's on his feet, moving so quickly you barely register the motion until he's crowding your space.

His hand finds your jaw, fingers digging into your skin as he forces your head up. "You think this is a game?" His thumb brushes your lower lip, hard enough to sting. "I don't waste time with beginners who don't commit." When you try to step back, his other arm bands around your waist, pulling you flush against him. You can feel every muscle through his thin swim trunks, the heat of his skin searing through your clothes.

"Get in the water," he growls, releasing you so suddenly you stumble. "And lose the shirt. I need to see what I'm working with."