Rock Hard Jealousy

**Chapter 1: The Heat of Possession**

The air in the penthouse suite was thick with tension, the kind that crackles like electricity before a storm. I, Ais, stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, gazing out at the glittering city below, my reflection a sharp silhouette against the glass. My black dress hugged every curve, daring and defiant, just the way I liked it. I knew he was watching me. I could feel the weight of his stare, heavy and unyielding, from across the room.

Dwayne—everyone calls him The Rock, but to me, he’s just D—stood by the bar, a glass of whiskey in his massive hand, his jaw tight as a vice. He was a mountain of a man, all muscle and raw power, but tonight, his eyes burned with something darker. Jealousy. I’d seen it before, but never like this. I’d spent the evening at a gala, laughing a little too loudly with some producer who couldn’t keep his eyes off me. I didn’t care for the guy, but I knew D would. And I played it up. Just to see that fire ignite.

“You think you’re cute, don’t you, Ais?” His voice rumbled like distant thunder, low and dangerous, as he set the glass down with a deliberate clink. “Flirting with that punk in front of everyone. In front of *me*.”

I turned slowly, my lips curling into a smirk as I crossed my arms, pushing my chest out just enough to make his gaze flicker. “Oh, come on, D. You’re not seriously mad over a little conversation, are you? I thought you were bigger than that.” My tone was sharp, teasing, a blade wrapped in velvet.

He took a step closer, his presence filling the room, his eyes locked on mine like a predator sizing up prey. But I wasn’t about to back down. “Bigger than that?” he repeated, a dark chuckle escaping his lips. “Baby girl, you have no idea what you’ve started. You think you can play games with me? I own every inch of you, and I’m about to remind you.”

My pulse quickened, but I kept my cool, tilting my head with a defiant glint in my eye. “Own me? Sweetheart, I’m not a damn trophy on your shelf. You want to remind me of something? You’d better bring your A-game, because I don’t break easy.”

His grin was feral, a flash of teeth as he closed the distance between us in two long strides. He towered over me, the heat of his body radiating against mine, and I could smell the faint musk of his cologne mixed with something primal. “Oh, I’m bringing it, Ais. You’re gonna wish you hadn’t pushed me tonight.”

I laughed, sharp and bold, even as my skin prickled with anticipation. “Promises, promises. You gonna talk all night, or are you gonna do something about it?”

That was the match to the gasoline. His hand shot out, gripping my waist with a force that made me gasp, pulling me flush against his rock-hard frame. I could feel every inch of him, the raw strength, the barely contained fury, and damn if it didn’t make my blood race. “You want action, huh?” he growled, his other hand sliding up to cup my jaw, tilting my face up to meet his searing gaze. “I’m gonna punish that smart mouth of yours until you’re begging for mercy.”

“Begging?” I shot back, my voice dripping with challenge, even as my body betrayed me, pressing closer to his. “You’ll be the one on your knees, D. Mark my words.”

His lips crashed into mine, a collision of heat and hunger, and I matched him with equal ferocity, my nails digging into his broad shoulders. The kiss was a battle, all teeth and tongue, a war of dominance neither of us was willing to lose. He backed me against the window, the cool glass a stark contrast to the fire igniting between us, and I felt the hard length of him pressing against my thigh. My breath hitched, but I wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of hearing it.

“Feel that?” he murmured against my lips, his voice a rough whisper as his hand slid down to grip my ass, pulling me tighter against his cock, already straining through his pants. “That’s what you do to me, Ais. And I’m gonna make damn sure you feel every inch of it.”

I smirked, my fingers trailing down his chest, teasing at the waistband of his pants. “Bring it on, big guy. I’m not scared of a little heat.”

His eyes darkened, a storm about to break, and I knew I’d pushed him to the edge. In one swift move, he lifted me, my legs wrapping around his waist as he carried me toward the bedroom, his grip on me unyielding. I could feel the tension coiling tighter, my body already wet with anticipation, my mind racing with the promise of what was to come. This wasn’t just sex. This was a reckoning. And I was ready to burn.