Page 5 of Owned

Nia: BITCH WHAT?!

Tessa: SPILL. EVERYTHING.

I’m typing out a response when the door opens and Riku strides back in, looking even more intense than before, if that’s possible. His eyes lock on mine and my fingers fumble, dropping my phone.

“Miss me?” he asks with a dangerous smile that makes my insides melt.

“Someone’s confident,” I shoot back, but my body betrays me, already leaning toward him.

Riku closes the door and moves to me, all scary power and lethal grace. He doesn’t say a word, just pulls me against his hard chest and claims my mouth again.

* * *

RIKU

The taste of her is addictive. My hands tighten on her full, round hips as I deepen the kiss, swallowing her soft moans. Nothing else matters - not the theft, not the chaos outside. Just this woman who was fucking made for me.

When I finally break our kiss, her eyes are glazed with heat. “You’re coming home with me.”

It’s not a question and we both know it.

Chapter 4

RIKU

I don’t wait for her to argue. I take her hand, lace my fingers through hers, and walk us straight out of my office. Maryam stiffens for a second, her free hand gripping the fabric of her dress like she’s debating fighting me on this. But she doesn’t let go. Doesn’t pull away. Doesn’t even try. And that’s how I know—she already belongs to me.

The estate is still buzzing with chaos, security on high alert after the stolen necklace incident, but none of it matters. The men will handle it. My only priority right now is getting this woman out of here. Somewhere private.

My car is already waiting out front, the sleek black Bugatti idling in the driveway. When we reach the steps, Maryam hesitates, her dark eyes flicking toward Nia and Tessa, who are standing near the terrace. Nia has her arms crossed, one eyebrow raised, looking entirely too amused. Tessa is full-on grinning.

Maryam’s fingers twitch in my grip. “Maybe I should—”

“No.”

She whips her head back to me. “Excuse me?”

I turn to her, crowding her space, using my body to block out everything but me.

“You’re coming with me.” My voice drops, low and deliberate. “No interruptions. No second-guessing. No running back to your friends like they can talk you out of what’s already happening.”

Her lips part, and I see the battle playing out behind her eyes. She wants to argue. Wants to tell me off, shove me away, and march back to her comfort zone. But she also wants this. Wants me.

And when I lean in, brushing my lips against the shell of her ear, I hear the tiny, hitched breath that tells me I got her.

“Get in the car, Maryam.”

Her body shivers. Then, without a word, she slides into the passenger seat. Fuck, yeah.

* * *

MARYAM

What the hell am I doing? I should’ve pulled away. Should’ve told himno thanksand walked my ass back inside. But when Riku Watanabe tells you to get in his car, and his voice is that low, sexy growl, his scent, a mix of expensive cologne and pure male, his big-ass body radiating heat like he’s already inside you? Yeah. You listen.

I press my thighs together as he slides into the driver’s seat, his presence filling the entire car. The door shuts with a soft click, and then it’s just us.

His hand moves to the gearshift, but he doesn’t start the car. Instead, he turns to me, his dark eyes scanning every inch of my body like he’s committing it to memory. Like I’m his favorite thing to look at in the whole fucking world.

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