"Asad," she whispered deeply, and I felt myself losing control. Slowly, I brought my hand toward her neck. The V-neck of her outfit was as tempting as her hair and lips. When my hand reached her necklace—a simple yet elegant design with a circular stone and diamond engravings—I started playing with it. Looking up, I noticed her swallowing hard at my actions. "Yes, love?" I whispered deeply, my voice carrying the weight of my intent. I knew my deep voice was her weakness, and I loved how it affected her. "You're... too close," she said softly, her voice barely audible. "Am I not supposed to be?" I asked, my tone husky, watching as she gulped again, losing herself more and more to the point of no return. "But you hate me—" "You're mine, Aleena," I interrupted, warning her. My voice grew darker, the intensity in my gaze matching the claim I had just made. I knew I hated her, but she was still mine. I couldn’t bear the thought of losing her. If she hated me, so be it. It didn’t matter because there was no way I would ever let her go, no matter how much I despised her. "I am not yours, Mr. Riaz," she shot back confidently, her glare fierce. That’s exactly what I loved about her—she didn’t fear me. She was queen of boldness, unapologetic, and intoxicatingly like hell! I chuckled at her response, my amusement tinged with anger. Grabbing her neck, I let my darkened grey eyes meet hers, my grip firm yet steady. "I'm not asking you to be mine, love," I said, my voice softening as her expression wavered. "I'm informing you—you are mine!" Her gaze turned to shock, leaving her too stunned to respond.