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He likes that I’m afraid of him, flashes through my mind. He wants me to be scared, to fear for my life while I’m with him. I know I should, but why do I also feel safe somehow like when I’m with Moon.

What the hell? I should keep on treating him like I’ve always done. He doesn’t like me; I’m just convenient for him and an easy target. He only likes what I can give his family. More power.

I can’t help but pant as I clutch at my neck at the same place his hand traced my skin; my legs clench together as he studies me. He doesn’t relent; it’s like he can see everything I try to hide.

How can I go from cold, to hot, to cold, in the span of a minute? I need to keep on hating the man. And I sure as hell don’t need him; I’ve got Moon and El, that’s enough.

He runs a hand over his face and looks at me with no emotion in his dark eyes.

I shiver, feeling my nipples turn taut and my panties dampen under his intense stare. I clutch at my neck, hell no, not him. Not Tian. I can’t bind myself to him.

“You have no idea what’s about to happen, do you?” he asks, sounding almost remorseful and sad at the same time.

I have no idea what he’s talking about. Not knowing who I’m marrying? And why did he choose today of all days to talk to me. What’s going to happen in the meeting later? Are they going to tell me how much time I have left before my life ends? My adoptive father asked me to sit in, wearing a dress. But I chose to wear an oversized suit along with a white dress shirt just to piss him off.

Tian’s eyes run over my clothes and the windbreaker. You can’t see anything hiding under the clothes, but I feel naked by the way he looks at me. Like he’s undressing me with his eyes. What I do know is, he’s never looked at me like this before.

“I like what you’re wearing,” he remarks without any emotion in his voice. And I want to curse myself for choosing this.

I shiver under his possessive gaze; I have no idea what is happening. I hug myself, closing the suit jacket, hoping he doesn’t see how hard my nipples are pressing against the lace fabric.

“You should go downstairs if you’re cold. I know Eliot likes this sappy shit, but…” he bites out, his deep voice making me quiver again. He shakes his head and runs a hand over his jaw never breaking eye contact.

“You can’t tell me what to do, Tian.

He roughly tugs at his tie, and his hand shoots out like he wants to grab my throat, but I point a finger in his face. “Try me, Triad boy,” I bite out.

The tiny smirk I saw tugging at his lips falls and without saying goodbye, he turns around, stomping away from me. Why do I have the feeling I hurt him? He forcefully opens the door leading to the stairwell that will take him down to the party. Why does my pussy clench watching him walk away from me, all angry and pouting? His broad back straining the shirt and black suit vest hugging his defined waist is making my heart race too.

He hovers in the doorway, but doesn’t turn around when he says, “Thanks for the smokes and the entertainment. See you later.” Then he’s clicking open his lighter and closing it again in one go to make some damn point.

“Fuck you, Tian,” I grit out, flipping off his back.

He takes a deep breath, pushes the door open, making it slam against the wall and saunters down the stairs. “You bet you will,” I hear him say, his deep voice sending shivers down my spine. Because it sounds like a promise and a threat at the same time.

Ten years ago, Shanghai

Dash and Eliot

I keep staring at the now closed door, expecting Tian to burst through it again and tell me off. That’s what this little back and forth was, isn’t it? I’m entertainment for him, nothing more.

I don’t know how long I stand there, still so confused he called me by the nickname only Eliot and Moon use. Do they talk about me?

The door opens again, and I hold my breath for a second. Why do I want it to be him to walk through those doors again? I close my eyes and count to ten before opening them and smile at my best friend hovering in the doorway. He looks out of breath. His hair is disheveled, his lips look bruised—and is that razer burn on his jaw?

“What the hell did you do to him, Dashie?” Eliot huffs, leaning against the doorway, looking at the twinkling lights and balloons I decorated the rooftop with.

“Nothing, nothing happened.” I shrug turning around, hoping he doesn’t notice my flushed cheeks. Maybe I should still jump, it’s not a long way down.

“Did you chew Tian out?” he jokes, winking at me as he runs over.

“I might have,” I tell him, biting on my bottom lip. I point to his face. “What’s that?”

“What?” he says all innocent and everything.

“In your neck, is that a little strawberry?” I laugh, referring to the hickey on his neck.

His hand flies to the place just below his jaw. “I don’t want to talk about it,” he mumbles, standing next to me and leaning his forearms against the railing, looking down too. He runs the back of his hand over his mouth, staring at his shaking fingers.