His Ruthless Claim

The dim glow of the penthouse suite barely illuminated the room, but the air crackled with unspoken tension. Taehyung stood near the floor-to-ceiling window, his sharp profile outlined against the city skyline. His jaw was clenched, a storm brewing in his dark eyes.

"You disobeyed me." His voice was deep, cold, laced with a quiet fury that sent shivers down my spine.

I swallowed, my fingers curling into the soft silk of the robe draped over my body. My heart pounded, but I forced myself to meet his gaze. "You can't keep me locked away like some prisoner, Taehyung. I had to—"

Before I could finish, he turned, closing the distance between us in two long strides. His hand wrapped around my chin, tilting my face up to his. His grip was firm but not painful—possessive, claiming.

"You had to what?" His whisper was dangerous, his breath hot against my lips. "Defy me? Put yourself in danger?"

"I had to see my brother," I said, my voice trembling slightly. "He's all I have left—"

"You have me." His eyes darkened, fingers tightening against my jaw as if to force the words into me. "You belong to me now, princess. Do you understand?"

The way he said it sent a rush of heat through my body. I hated how my pulse reacted to his dominance, how my skin burned under his touch.

"You don't own me," I whispered, but even I didn't believe my words.

Taehyung's smirk was slow, sinful. "Keep lying to yourself, baby." His fingers trailed down my neck, resting over my racing pulse. "But your body tells me otherwise."

I shuddered, a battle waging inside me. He was everything I shouldn't want—ruthless, dangerous, obsessive. But I couldn't deny the way he made me feel. Every touch was electric, every word a dark promise.

"You think I'm cruel for keeping you here," he murmured, tilting his head. "But you don't understand, sweetheart. The world outside of this penthouse? It's far worse. If they get their hands on you, they'll destroy you. And I won't allow that."

His thumb brushed against my lower lip, his gaze possessive.

"You're mine."

The words were a vow, a command, a sentence.

I should have fought harder. I should have pushed him away, screamed at him for his audacity. But instead, I found myself leaning into him, drawn to the darkness that surrounded him.

"Why me?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "Why are you so obsessed?"

Taehyung let out a low chuckle, the sound rough and dangerous. "You still don't get it, do you?" His fingers slid down my arm, wrapping around my wrist. He lifted my hand and placed it over his chest, right where his heart beat strong and steady. "From the moment I saw you, I knew. You weren't meant to belong to anyone else."

I stared at him, my breath hitching. "That's not love, Taehyung."

His expression darkened. "Love?" He smirked, shaking his head. "What I feel for you goes beyond love, baby. Love can fade. Love can break. But obsession?" His fingers tightened around my wrist. "Obsession lasts forever."

A dangerous thrill shot through me at his words, my heart betraying me as it pounded against my ribs.

"I'm not afraid of you," I lied, my voice shaking.

His smirk deepened. "You should be."

And then his lips were on mine—rough, claiming, possessive. The kiss was a battle, a punishment, a dark surrender. He kissed me like he wanted to consume me, to mark me in ways that would never fade.

I gasped against him, my fingers clutching his shirt as he pressed me back against the velvet chaise lounge. His hands roamed, teasing, taunting, as if proving his point without words.

"You can run, baby," he murmured against my lips. "You can fight. But in the end, you'll always find your way back to me."

I hated how much I wanted to believe him.

His hands trailed lower, slipping beneath the silk of my robe, fingers brushing over my heated skin. I sucked in a sharp breath, every nerve in my body responding to his touch.

"You act like you hate me," he mused, his voice dark and teasing, "but your body tells a different story."

I bit my lip, refusing to give him the satisfaction of a response. But he was relentless.

"Say it," he murmured against my ear, his lips grazing my skin. "Say that you're mine."

I turned my head away, but he wasn't having it. His fingers gripped my chin, forcing me to look at him. "Say it, sweetheart."

I glared at him, my nails digging into his forearms. "I'll never belong to you."

His gaze darkened, his hold tightening ever so slightly. "Wrong answer."

Before I could react, he had me pinned beneath him, his body pressing into mine, his heat suffocating. His lips brushed over my throat, lingering just enough to make me tremble.

"You can fight all you want, but at the end of the day, I own every part of you."

A shiver ran down my spine. "You can't keep me here forever, Taehyung."

He chuckled darkly. "Wanna bet?"

My breath hitched when his teeth grazed my skin, leaving a faint mark. It was a warning. A promise.

"You'll learn to accept it, baby," he whispered. "You already have."

I don't know how much time passed before he finally pulled away, leaving me breathless, shaken. He stood, adjusting his suit, his gaze never leaving mine.

"Tomorrow, you're coming with me."

I frowned, trying to catch my breath. "Where?"

His smirk was slow, calculated. "To the gala. I want every man in that room to know who you belong to."

I swallowed hard. "I'm not your accessory, Taehyung."

His eyes darkened. "No, you're not. You're mine."

I hated the way those words sent a thrill through me, hated the way my heart betrayed me. But as he walked away, leaving me breathless and aching, I knew one thing for certain.

This wasn't just possession.

It was war.

And I wasn't sure I wanted to win.