Chapter 12: CAGED DESIRE

𝘛𝘪𝘵𝘭𝘦: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓

𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝟏𝟏: 𝐂𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐃 𝐃𝐄𝐒𝐈𝐑𝐄

The gunshot echoed through the mansion, but the real danger stood right in front of me.

Taehyun.

He was a storm in human form—unpredictable, untamed, and ready to destroy anything in his path.

He had told me to stay put.

Like hell I would.

I took a step back, my pulse hammering. Run or fight?

Before I could decide, the door swung open again.

And this time, he didn’t just walk in—he stormed in.

His sharp suit was slightly disheveled, his fingers flexing at his sides like he was one breath away from snapping.

His eyes met mine, and for a single, terrifying second, the world stopped.

Then—

The door slammed shut behind him.

Locked.

I swallowed hard. “Taehyun—”

He moved. Fast.

One second, I was standing near the bed, the next—

I was caged against the wall.

Both of his hands slammed beside my head, his body pressing into mine. His heat wrapped around me, suffocating, intoxicating.

“Are you deaf, princess?” His voice was low, dangerous. Obsessed.

I clenched my jaw. “I’m not your prisoner.”

His lips curled. “No?” He leaned in, his breath ghosting over my lips. “Then why are you trembling?”

I hated that he was right.

Hated how my body reacted before my brain could catch up.

“You’re a monster,” I whispered.

His fingers slid down my arm, slow, possessive. “And yet, you let me touch you.”

I swallowed hard. “I—”

Before I could finish, he grabbed my chin, tilting my head back.

“Say it again,” he murmured, his voice dripping with dark amusement. “Say you hate me.”

I should have.

I should have screamed at him, pushed him away, fought.

Instead, my lips parted, and my breath hitched.

His thumb brushed over my bottom lip. “Liar.”

Then—

His lips crashed into mine.

Hard. Raw. Consuming.

He wasn’t just kissing me. He was devouring me.

I gasped, and he took full advantage, his tongue sweeping inside, demanding, taking.

His hands slid down my sides, gripping my waist like he wanted to pull me deeper into him.

I pressed my palms against his chest, but instead of pushing him away—

I fisted his shirt.

His smirk against my lips was pure sin. “That’s it, princess.”

His hands tightened around my hips, lifting me effortlessly. My legs wrapped around his waist on instinct, my back hitting the wall harder.

I moaned into his mouth, and he growled.

The sound was raw. Primal. Wild.

“You feel it, don’t you?” he whispered, dragging his lips down my jaw, his teeth grazing my skin.

I shivered.

Damn him.

He knew exactly what he was doing to me.

His lips found my pulse, and he bit down—not enough to hurt, but enough to leave a mark.

My nails dug into his shoulders. “Taehyun—”

He pulled back, his eyes burning into mine. “What?”

I sucked in a shaky breath. “You… you can’t just—”

He smirked, tilting his head. “Can’t just what, princess?”

His hands slid under my thighs, holding me up effortlessly. His grip was bruising, his touch possessive.

“You think you can run from me?” he murmured, his voice dripping with dark amusement. “You think I’ll ever let you go?”

I swallowed hard. “You don’t own me.”

His smirk deepened.

Then, he carried me to the bed and dropped me onto the sheets.

I gasped, trying to scramble away, but he was faster—crawling over me, his hands pinning mine above my head.

His body caged me in.

I was trapped.

Completely and utterly at his mercy.

“I don’t own you?” he repeated, his lips brushing over mine. “Then why do you let me do this?”

He kissed me again, slow and deep this time, like he was savoring every second.

I hated him.

I hated how I kissed him back.

I hated how much I wanted him to never stop.

He pulled back, his breath ragged.

“You can lie all you want, princess.”

His lips brushed over my ear, his voice a dark promise.

“But your body tells me the truth.”