“First Night”
Jae’s arm stayed locked around my waist as if he were afraid I’d vanish.
His skin was hot against my damp shirt, the ink on his shoulder shifting with every slow breath he took.
Ren Sato
“Let go—” I whispered, shoving at his arm.
His lips curved, his voice soft but certain.
Across from us, Adrian Kane leaned back in his seat, crossing one leg over the other.
His gaze was steady, unreadable, and it made my stomach twist worse than Jae’s grip.
Adrian said, speaking my name for the first time.
Adrian Kane
“Do you understand what your signature means?”
Ren Sato
“I didn’t sign anything—”
He reached into his vest pocket, pulling out a folded sheet of paper.
Adrian Kane
“Last month. The loan agreement your ‘friend’ convinced you to take.”
My chest tightened. Kaito…
I’d trusted him. And now—
Adrian Kane
“Your friend sold your debt to us,”
Adrian continued, his tone calm, almost polite.
Adrian Kane
“We paid it in full. That makes you… our investment.”
Jae’s thumb brushed over my hipbone in a slow, almost mocking circle.
Jae Ryu
“And I always take good care of my investments,”
I flinched at the warmth in his voice, because it wasn’t kindness—it was possession.
My voice cracked despite my effort to stay strong.
Adrian Kane
“Because you were exactly what we were looking for.”
The words felt like a chain snapping shut.
Jae pushed himself up from the couch, finally releasing me only to step in front of me.
His shadow fell over my face, his dark eyes glinting.
Jae Ryu
“Come on, pretty thing. Let’s show you your room.”
Adrian’s voice came from behind him, smooth as glass.
Adrian Kane
“It’s not a request, Ren.”
Jae’s hand closed around mine, pulling me toward the long hallway lined with warm lights and quiet echoes.
The air felt heavier with each step.
When the door closed behind us, I realized—
Comments