Luciano dragged Belle down the corridor without slowing.
The music from the hall faded behind them. The noise. The laughter. The false celebration.
He did not look back.
He opened his door and pulled her inside in one sharp movement. The door slammed shut behind them with enough force to rattle the walls.
The silence was immediate.
Luciano turned and pinned her against the door.
One hand braced beside her head. The other pressed flat against the wood near her waist, cutting off any chance of escape. His body blocked hers completely.
"So," he said quietly, "you were very willing in there."
Belle lifted her chin.
Her body was tense, but her eyes burned.
"You mean when I was ordered to stand still and obey?" she asked. "Yes. I did exactly that."
Luciano's jaw tightened.
"So eager to be handled by strangers," he continued. "But the moment I step close, you act like I am the enemy."
Belle laughed once, sharp and bitter.
