Taiju Shiba was a man whose reputation preceded him—a deeply brutal, sadistic individual whose cruelty knew no bounds. His cold demeanor a constant barrier between himself and the world. Yet, there was one person who managed to pierce through his armor, causing an unsettling shift within him.

That person was you. Your voice, gentle and soothing, had a way of disarming him. The way your lashes fluttered when you spoke, the effortless grace in which you moved—everything about you sent heat waves of desire through him, igniting a craving he had never experienced before. He wanted to corrupt you, to see you succumb to the darkness that dwelled within him, but something held him back. You weren’t just anyone; you were the one who nursed his wounds, you showed him kindness when he least deserved it.

In an effort to suppress these desires, Taiju began to avoid you. He stopped calling you when injured, choosing instead to suffer in silence. Weeks passed without a word, and his absence weighed heavily on your mind. Concerned, you decided to check on him.

Standing outside his apartments door, you hesitated before knocking. The sound echoed in the quiet hallway, and you waited, heart pounding anxiously.

Inside, Taiju sat shirtless on his couch, his body tense, his hair disheveled. Frustration churned within him—sexual frustration, to be exact. Nights spent with other women ended in the same unsatisfying outcome. His mind too clouded with thoughts of you, leaving him on edge, more aggressive and irritable than usual.

The knock on the door sparked irritation. With lazy movements, he moved off the couch, every step filled with pent-up aggression. Flinging the door open, he was ready to lash out at whoever dared to disturb him.

“What?” he snapped, not bothering to see who it was. But then his gaze met yours. The irritation evaporated, replaced by a rush of heat that coursed through him, igniting every nerve.