Page 6 of Owned

“What?” I say, my voice a little too raspy.

His fingers drum on the leather-wrapped wheel. “You’re nervous.”

I scoff. “I’m not nervous.”

He smirks. “You should be.”

A shiver runs down my spine. And before I can come up with a halfway decent comeback, he’s moving. The engine purrs to life, the soft hum filling the space between us as he pulls onto the long, winding road leading away from the estate. The city lights fade, replaced by the coastline. The silence between us is thick. Charged. I should say something. Fill this impossible space. But I don’t. My head is all over the place right now.

Riku drives with total control. One hand on the wheel, the other one resting on the console between us, his fingers so close to my thigh that my skin feels hot just from his proximity.

The speedometer climbs. Not reckless. But not exactly legal, either.

“I don’t even know where we’re going,” I murmur, finally breaking the silence.

He glances at me, eyes burning with desire. “Home.”

My pulse skips. His home. Not a hotel, neutral territory. But hisspace.

I swallow. “You do this a lot?”

Riku’s jaw flexes. “Do what?”

“Take women home after one look across a crowded room?”

His grip on the wheel tightens. Then, just when I think he won’t answer, he speaks.

“I don’t do this. Ever.”

I exhale slowly. Damn. And I don’t know why, but that makes something warm spread through my chest.

I look away, out the window, watching as we cut down the highway along the cliffs, the dark ocean stretching into forever.

I don’t do this. Ever. So why me? Why now?

* * *

RIKU

My house sits at the edge of the cliffs, isolated, secured, private. It’s built for a man like me—someone who doesn’t like people and values control. And tonight, it’s where I’m going to claim what’s mine.

I cut the engine, the sound of the ocean filling the space. Maryam stays in her seat, fingers curled into the hem of her dress like she’s still processing what’s happening. I let her. For exactlyten seconds. Then I reach across the console, brush my fingers under her chin, and tip her face to mine.

“You’re not running away from this.”

Her breath shudders. “I wasn’t planning to.”

Fuck. She’s going to kill me.

I get out, walk around, and open her door. She steps out, and I take her hand again, leading her inside. And the second the door shuts behind us, I cage her against it. No space. No hesitation. Just her soft curves against my hard body.

My mouth drops to her ear. “I’m done waiting, baby.”

She exhales sharply, her hands grabbing at my shirt.

Good. Because she’s not leaving until she knows exactly who she belongs to. And that starts right now.

Chapter 5

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