Bound by Shadows

His fingers traced her wrist before he let go completely.

"You belong to me."

She didn't answer.

Because for the first time, she wasn't sure she wanted to deny it.

The words settled in the air between them, thick with unspoken truths. His dark eyes locked onto hers, waiting—no, daring—her to contradict him. But she couldn't. Not this time.

Not after what he'd done.

Not after the way he had just ripped apart the world she thought she knew and replaced it with his.

She rubbed at the lingering imprint of his touch, but the heat remained, sinking deeper beneath her skin like a brand. Outside, the city pulsed with life, oblivious to the storm brewing inside this penthouse—inside her.

"Say it," Taehyung demanded, his voice low and dangerous.

Her pulse kicked against her ribs.

She was trapped between the past and the present, between the girl who once craved freedom and the woman who now felt the thrill of captivity. Taehyung wasn't just a man; he was a force—ruthless, inescapable, a living, breathing storm of chaos and obsession.

And God help her… a part of her wanted to be consumed by him.

"I..." she started, then stopped.

She couldn't give him what he wanted. Not yet.

A flicker of something dark passed through his gaze before he exhaled sharply and stepped closer, erasing the last shred of distance between them.

"I won't force you to say it," he murmured, his fingers lifting her chin. "But don't think for a second that changes anything."

His lips brushed against her ear, his next words sending a shiver down her spine.

"You already belong to me. Whether you admit it or not."

A tremor ran through her, but it wasn't from fear. It should have been.

Because when Taehyung claimed something, he never let go.

The Price of Defiance

She didn't remember moving, but suddenly, she was stepping back, creating space between them. Her breath came fast, her body warring with itself.

"I can't do this," she whispered.

Taehyung cocked his head, watching her like a predator indulging its prey before the kill. "Can't do what?"

She swallowed, her throat tight. "This. You. Us. Whatever this is."

A slow, dark smirk curled at the edges of his lips, but there was no humor in it. Only something sharp and knowing.

"Lie to yourself all you want, sweetheart. But I see the way you react to me." He took another step, his presence suffocating. "You want to run? Fine. Try." His eyes flickered with challenge. "See how far you get before I drag you right back."

Her stomach twisted, a mix of defiance and something dangerously close to exhilaration. "You can't control me," she shot back.

His smirk widened. "Can't I?"

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, black velvet box. Her heart slammed against her ribs.

"What—"

"Open it." His tone was soft, but it was an order.

She hesitated before taking the box. The weight of it sent a chill down her spine.

When she flicked it open, her breath hitched.

Inside, nestled against black velvet, was a diamond bracelet—thin but undeniably expensive. The clasp was engraved with something. She picked it up, angling it toward the light.

One word.

"Mine."

Her lips parted.

She looked up at him, stunned. "You—"

"Put it on."

She hesitated.

Taehyung's expression darkened. "Now."

Something inside her rebelled, but when she tried to resist, his hand wrapped around hers, his grip firm but not painful. He guided her fingers, making her clasp the bracelet around her wrist himself.

The moment it clicked into place, a slow, satisfied smile crossed his face.

"Perfect."

A Dangerous Game

"You don't get to claim me like this," she whispered, though the words lacked conviction.

Taehyung's fingers brushed over the bracelet, then trailed up her arm, slow and deliberate.

"You think this is a game, baby?" His voice was almost tender, but the dark promise in it made her pulse skitter. "I don't play games."

Her body betrayed her, drawn to his heat, his presence. But her mind screamed at her to hold her ground.

She forced herself to meet his gaze. "And what happens when I take it off?"

His smile vanished.

For a second, the air turned razor-sharp. Then, he tilted his head, his fingers tightening just enough to remind her of his strength.

"Try it."

The challenge sent a bolt of electricity through her.

God, he was dangerous.

"You're insane," she whispered.

Taehyung only chuckled. "And yet, here you are."

Her breath caught as he leaned in, his lips barely brushing against hers. A ghost of a touch.

"Tell me to stop," he murmured.

She should. She had to.

But she didn't.

And that was all the answer he needed.

In the next breath, his lips crashed against hers.

His hands were on her before she could think, fingers curling into her waist, pulling her flush against him. The kiss was fierce—possessive, demanding. His grip tightened as if he expected her to fight him, but all she could do was melt into him.

Her fingers fisted into his shirt, grounding herself in his warmth, in the raw, unrelenting intensity of him.

Taehyung groaned against her lips, deepening the kiss. He tasted like dominance, like danger—like everything she should have resisted but couldn't.

When he finally pulled back, her breath was ragged, her heart pounding like a drum.

His thumb traced her lower lip, which was swollen from his kisses. "See?" His voice was husky, laced with victory. "You don't want to fight me. You just want to pretend you do."

Her mind screamed at her to deny it.

But the truth was, she wasn't sure where the fight ended and the surrender began.

Taehyung stepped back just enough to study her face, his gaze unreadable. Then, without another word, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a second, smaller box.

This one wasn't velvet.

It was a key.

Her breath hitched. "What's this?"

His smirk returned, but this time, it was softer. "Your new home."

Her stomach dropped.

"Taehyung—"

"I told you," he interrupted smoothly. "I don't play games."

She swallowed, her fingers tightening around the key.

His voice dipped lower, sending chills down her spine. "This isn't just a bracelet, sweetheart. It's a promise."

His fingers tilted her chin up, forcing her to look at him. "You belong to me now. In every way that matters."

Her heart pounded, caught between fear and something even more terrifying.

Desire.

He was claiming her. Not just her body, but her entire existence.

And the scariest part?

She wasn't sure she wanted to stop him.