3. Teeth and Consequences

Aira’s breath came in sharp bursts, her back pressed against the bookshelf as Ruhan loomed over her. His grip on her wrists was iron, his body a cage of heat and restrained violence.

*Mine.*

The word still hung between them, vibrating in the air like a plucked wire.

She bared her teeth. “I don’t *belong* to you.”

Ruhan’s thumb stroked the frantic pulse in her wrist—once, twice. A mockery of comfort. “You do now.”

She twisted, trying to knee him. He dodged effortlessly, his laughter dark. “Try harder, little sparrow.”

A growl tore from her throat. She lunged forward, teeth sinking into the meat of his palm.

Blood bloomed on her tongue.

He didn’t flinch.

Instead, his free hand fisted in her hair, yanking her head back. Their eyes locked—hers blazing, his glacial.

“Good,” he murmured. “I was starting to think you were all soft edges.”

Then his mouth crashed onto hers.

It wasn’t a kiss. It was a *claim*.

Hot, brutal, all teeth and dominance. She bit down harder, and he groaned into her mouth, his grip tightening. The taste of copper mixed with the scent of his cologne, dizzying.

She shoved at his chest. He let her break away—but only far enough to see the fury in her eyes.

“*Bastard*,” she spat.

Ruhan wiped his bleeding lip with his thumb, then smeared it across her chin. “Now we match.”

**Thirty minutes later**, Aira sat stiffly in the back of another black SUV, her arms crossed. Ruhan had barely spoken since the study, only barking orders at his men before dragging her outside.

The car moved through the city like a shadow, tinted windows hiding her from the world.

“Where are you taking me?” she demanded.

Ruhan scrolled through his phone, indifferent. “Somewhere you can’t run.”

She glared. “I’ll find a way.”

That made him look up. A slow, dangerous smile curled his lips. “I’d love to see you try.”

The car turned into an underground garage, descending into darkness. Aira’s stomach tightened.

When the doors opened, they were met by four armed men.

Ruhan stepped out, straightening his cuffs. “Search her.”

Aira recoiled. “*What?*”

One of the men approached. She swung—but Ruhan caught her fist mid-air.

“If you’re hiding anything,” he said calmly, “now’s the time to confess.”

She wrenched free. “I’m not your prisoner.”

“Aren’t you?”

The guard patted her down, finding nothing but the clothes on her back. Ruhan watched, unreadable, until the man shook his head.

“Clean.”

Ruhan nodded. “Good.”

Then he grabbed Aira’s arm and hauled her toward an elevator.

**The penthouse was a gilded prison.**

Floor-to-ceiling windows showed the city sprawled below, lights twinkling like trapped stars. The space was vast, minimalist—all cold marble and sharp edges.

Aira spun to face him. “What is this place?”

“Home.” Ruhan tossed his keys onto a table. “For now.”

She scoffed. “You expect me to just *live* here?”

“I expect you to stay alive.” He strode to a liquor cabinet, pouring himself a drink. “Unless you’d prefer the alternative?”

She didn’t answer.

He took a sip, then set the glass down with a *click*. “There’s a bedroom for you. Clothes. Food. Don’t leave.”

“Or what?”

He met her gaze. “Or I’ll tie you to the bed myself.”

Her breath hitched.

Ruhan smirked. “Your choice.”

Then he walked away, leaving her standing there, fists clenched, heart pounding.

**That night**, Aira tested every lock.

The windows were sealed. The doors needed a keycard. The balcony was twenty stories up.

*Trapped.*

She slumped onto the bed, exhaustion dragging at her bones. The room was lavish—king-sized bed, silk sheets, an en suite bathroom with a shower big enough for three.

All of it felt like a taunt.

A knock at the door.

She stiffened. “Go away.”

It opened anyway.

Ruhan stood in the doorway, now in a black sweater that hugged his broad frame. He held a tray—steaming soup, fresh bread, a glass of water.

“Eat,” he ordered.

She glared. “Not hungry.”

He set the tray on the nightstand. “Liar.”

Her stomach chose that moment to betray her with a loud growl.

Ruhan’s lips twitched. “You’ll need your strength.”

“For what?”

He leaned down, bracing a hand on the mattress beside her thigh. His voice dropped to a whisper.