The CEO's Cherished Heart

Carrying Su Jin effortlessly in his arms, Luo Xian strode into the luxurious suite of the private club. However, instead of heading to the plush seating area, he surprised her by walking straight into the adjoining bathroom.

With one arm, Luo Xian cradled Su Jin as though she was born to fit perfectly against him. He turned on the faucet, filling the expansive bathtub with steaming water before unceremoniously dropping her into it. Su Jin's long, dark hair fanned out like seaweed, floating on the surface. She gasped and raised her eyes, meeting the piercing gaze of the man standing over her.

Her heart nearly stopped. His eyes were an arresting shade of emerald green, sharp and unyielding. He wore a mask, obscuring most of his face, but the commanding aura he exuded made her shiver. Then, without hesitation, he removed the mask, revealing a face so perfect it looked as if every detail had been meticulously crafted. Yet, his striking features were counterbalanced by eyes as cold and merciless as winter frost. Su Jin had never encountered such a dangerously captivating man before.

"Clean yourself," Luo Xian ordered, his tone brooking no argument.

Su Jin blinked in confusion, her lips parting in a soft "Ah?"—a reflexive sound of bewilderment. Luo Xian's eyes darkened, as if her innocent reaction struck a nerve deep within him.

"I said, clean yourself," he repeated, his voice dropping to a menacing growl. "I don't tolerate filth." His meaning was clear: he despised the thought of anyone else's touch lingering on her skin.

Her face went pale. She hadn't forgotten the humiliating agreement she had made tonight—an arrangement that led her here, to this moment.

With trembling fingers, Su Jin removed the blazer that had once offered her a modicum of protection, folding it neatly to the side. Her hands instinctively moved to cover her chest as her heart hammered wildly in her ribcage. Embarrassment, shame, and resignation warred within her.

But why wasn't he leaving?

As if reading her thoughts, Luo Xian's icy voice cut through the silence. "You belong to me, Su Jin. Every inch of you is mine. I have every right to watch what is mine. Now, strip."

She bit her lip, her fingers trembling as she reluctantly obeyed. The vulnerability of baring herself in front of this man made her want to disappear. But just as she began hesitantly undressing, Luo Xian startled her by shedding his own clothing.

Su Jin's head snapped downward, her face flaming as she averted her gaze. Her pulse raced wildly. She hadn't meant to, but she'd glimpsed his sculpted physique—a body honed to predatory perfection. The sight was almost too much to bear.

Before she could recover, Luo Xian stepped into the bathtub, the water sloshing over the sides as his presence dominated the space.

"To save time," he said nonchalantly, "we'll do this together."

The sheer size of him left little room in the tub. Su Jin found herself pressed against his chest, her back molded to his warmth. Then, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, he lifted her effortlessly, settling her onto his lap.

"Too cramped," he muttered.

Her mind reeled. Was that really his reasoning? That the bathtub was too small, so this proximity was necessary? Her heart pounded in her chest as she tried to convince herself of his logic.

But his hands—his hands were doing something else entirely. They roamed her body with possessive intent, pulling at the fragile boundaries she clung to. Su Jin stiffened, fear slicing through her. Her lips trembled as she tried to hold back the panic rising within her.

She had no right to protest. This was the choice she had made. This was the transaction she had agreed to.

"It's just a deal," she repeated silently, clutching the words like a lifeline. "A deal."

Still, tears welled in her eyes and began to spill. She couldn't stop them, no matter how fiercely she told herself she had no right to cry. What dignity remained for someone who had already sold herself?

Luo Xian's hand caught her chin, forcing her face upward until her tear-filled eyes met his glacial stare. His emerald gaze bore into her, as if trying to unearth her very soul.

"Why are you crying?" he asked, his tone devoid of warmth.

Su Jin shook her head hastily. "I'm not. The water… it just got in my eyes," she lied, her voice shaky.

He studied her for a moment longer, his eyes narrowing. "Is that so? I thought perhaps you weren't willing. But then again, you seem eager enough. Tell me, Su Jin—if it weren't me tonight, would you be this obedient for any other man?"

His words sliced through her like a blade. His hand gripped her shoulder tightly, anger simmering beneath his composed exterior. Before she could answer, his lips crashed against hers, punishing and relentless. The ferocity of his kiss left her gasping for air, her lips bruised and trembling by the time he pulled away.

When he finally released her, a thin thread of silver connected their mouths.

Without a word, Luo Xian lifted her from the water, stepping out of the tub with her in his arms.

"I… I'm not done washing," Su Jin stammered.

His voice was cold. "You're clean enough. Even pigskin would be sterilized by now."

Before she could process his words, he tossed her onto the massive bed. His towering frame loomed over her, trapping her in place. There was no escape—nowhere to run.

She only remembered fragments of his final words: "Remember this, Su Jin. This is your punishment. From now on, you are mine. Only mine."

Hours later, Su Jin drifted into unconsciousness. She didn't notice the way Luo Xian's arms remained tightly wrapped around her or the gentle kiss he pressed to her lips.

"My treasure," he murmured softly, his voice tinged with a rare tenderness. "I've finally found you again."

It was common knowledge that Luo Xian detested physical contact. His aversion to others was notorious, but tonight he had broken every rule for this woman. Few knew that Luo Xian wasn't merely the club's VIP guest—he owned the entire establishment.

When he saw her cowering among the others, trembling and vulnerable, recognition hit him like a thunderbolt. One look, and he knew. She was the woman he had searched for relentlessly for a year.

His mind drifted back to their first encounter—a masquerade ball, where the lights had unexpectedly gone out. In the dark, she had stumbled into his arms, her soft form colliding with his. He'd been ready to push her away, but something about her—her warmth, her scent—made him pause. When the lights flickered back on, he had seen her face, her mask askew.

But before he could speak, she had fled, vanishing like a phantom. For the first time in his life, Luo Xian had wanted something he couldn't have. He had scoured every corner of the city, searching for the woman who had haunted his thoughts.

And now, fate had brought her back to him.

He tightened his hold on her sleeping form, a dark smile curving his lips.

"You made me wait an entire year, Su Jin," he whispered. "Now, you'll never escape me again."