Before he even had a chance to speak, her mouth was on his, her hands on his face, in his hair.

It happened so quickly that she took both of them off guard. He was stiff as a board, no reaction at all. She jumped back just as suddenly as she had moved in, horrified by her actions, humiliated at her lack of restraint.

She just wanted to feel in control. Just for a while.

With her head lowered in shame, she cursed herself. Reluctantly, she lifted her rain-soaked face to his. Just as she was about to plead insanity, Mo Qingchen swiftly pulled her in, biting down hard on her bottom lip before devouring her mouth whole.

It took an instant for her to lose control.

He bit down on her lip and her hands were on him. Her fingers forged a path straight up to the back of his neck, raking through his wet hair, holding his face to hers.

Her rain-soaked dress clung so snugly it felt like he was touching her bare skin as his hands traveled down her sides. He set her on fire purely from his heated fingertips.

With a tug of her hips, he pulled her body close to his.

She had yet to even taste his tongue and she was putty in his hands. A tiny whine whispered her lips, causing a low growl to leave his mouth.

She had seen him curse and growl at others. She had been at the end of his death glares, but the feeling it left against her lips was a whole new experience. It was wet and warm and tasted a bit salty.

He explored, licking her, savoring her like his favorite meal.

Qian Meng moaned into his mouth and though it was utterly shameless, she gently rubbed herself against him. She couldn't help it.

A deeper, more savage growl rumbled in Mo Qingchen's chest, causing a tingle to pass over her skin. His hands clenched onto her hips, so tightly that it would leave a mark.

His mark.

Why that thrilled her, she had no idea.

Mo Qingchen devoured her mouth relentlessly until her lips were nearly numb. He bit down on Qian Meng's bottom lip for one last time before releasing it. She couldn't resist the urge to bite him back.

Lifting up slightly on her toes, she sunk her teeth down hard on his lower lip before letting it go.

She could finally see how hard he had tried to reach her. He was at least a foot taller, and he had tried his hardest to meet her in the middle.

"Fuck," he grumbled under his breath. His eyes remained closed but they rolled beneath his lids, showing her how hard he was trying to control himself.

Qian Meng's heart was racing at the reaction she provoked in him. She licked her licks before bringing it back to his, this time slowly pulling in his top lip and biting down even harder.

Her lips were swollen and stung from his ministrations. But she didn't care about that. She just had to repay him for it.

And she took great pleasure in it.

She immediately felt a distinct presence of a part of him she had never come in contact with. Her body reacted on impulse, her eyes fluttered closed tightly as her hips gravitated to the solid warmth that had suddenly appeared. She tried fighting the urge to dry hump him in the middle of the street, but resistance wasn't an option at that point in time.

Her emotions were overwhelmed and the only way to let it out was on him. She had spiraled out of control, and she dared to say that he had too.

It should have mortified her that she was pressing up against him like a cat in heat, but rational thought evaded her.

Her eyes opened slowly and found his blazing down at her. Usually, his black eyes were clustered with rage or disinterest, but at that moment, she only saw one… lust.

The wind whipped through her hair, tossing it around.

Raw need flooded his darkened gaze. It was so primal that Qian Meng thought he was going to rip her dress off and defile her right there on the gritty streets of Shanghai.

But then his eyes clenched shut. The sound of his heavy breathing was all she could hear.

Their faces were close, lips lightly touching. Once his breathing had calmed, he released his vice grip on her hips.

His eyes opened and Qian Meng could see him struggling to regain control.

He cleared his throat. "Did I hurt you?" His voice was hoarse.

Qian Meng shook her head, unsure what he was talking about. "No. No."

Her lips were numb but her body tingled in all the right places. Now that she thought about it, her hips were a little sore, though it was the most pleasurable pain she had ever known. She ached for his touch.

She shook her head at that thought.

He stepped away from her slowly and ran a hand through his hair. "Yun Qian Meng…"

"Qian Meng," she cut him off. "After what just happened, I think we've evolved to a first name basis. Would you like to give me another nickname?" She laughed at his stiff disposition to clear the air.

"Qian Meng," he whispered her name as though it were a secret. "That was not supposed to happen. I don't… I can't." His fingers slid down the side of his face. "I am not capable of romantic love. And you said you weren't either," he stated firmly, backing away from her.

"True. I just require honesty." She hated seeing him in turmoil. "Just tell me what you want. What do you want, Mo Qingchen?" she pressed.

He thought over her words. "You deserve far more than those men can give you. Far more than I can give you, but I'll take up the challenge." His tone was fiercely honest. He meant every word he said.

"I understand." The words tumbled out of her mouth without hesitation. She didn't really understand what he meant.