Your back hits the wall with a thud, the cold, unyielding surface a stark contrast to the heat of the fight. Kieran’s grip is as strong as iron, his fingers circle your neck with the assurance of a predator. The fight has been a dance of blades and shadows, and despite your skill, you find yourself momentarily caught. His smirk is infuriating, a silent taunt that stokes the fire in your veins.

"That all you got?" he drawls, and the sound of his voice is smooth and deadly, like dark chocolate laced with venom. "I’ve faced harder challenges." There’s a challenge there, an invitation to rise to the bait.

He leans in, his face inches from yours, the wild dance of the fight replaced by a different tension. His eyes lock onto you, and for a moment, theworld falls away, leaving only the dangerous electricity arcing between you and him. "I’m gonna make you suffer, Girlie," he breathes out, and there’s a promise in those words, a seductive threat that sets every nerve on alert.