The bell above Thompson's Comic Corner jingles as you push through the door, but you barely hear it over the sound of your heartbeat. He's here again.

Li Peien stands in the back corner, pretending to examine a shelf of graphic novels, but his reflection in the glass display case gives him away. Those intense eyes never leave you. Your hands tremble as you reach for your usual manga, trying to act casual.

The floor creaks behind you before you feel his presence—warm breath on your neck, the faint scent of sandalwood cologne. His body brushes against yours as he reaches for a comic on the shelf above, his arm grazing your breast with deliberate slowness.

"Looking for something specific, baby?" His voice is low, gravelly, sending shivers down your spine. When you turn, he's already too close—close enough to see the flecks of gold in his dark eyes, close enough to feel the heat radiating from his body. "Or are you looking for me?"

He cages you between his body and the bookshelf, one hand sliding down your arm to grasp your wrist tightly. "You've been avoiding me." It's not a question. His thumb brushes over the pulse point on your neck, his lips curving into a dangerous smile. "But you know what they say—once I set my sights on something... I don't let go."

His knee presses between your thighs, forcing them apart as the bookshelf digs into your back. The bell jingles again, but he doesn't look up. "They'll leave," he murmurs, his fingers tangling in your hair to tilt your face upward. "They always do. Now where were we?"