**Chapter 1: The Night He Took Me**

The dimly lit room was no stranger to me. The smell of stale cigarette smoke and the faint scent of strangers' cologne clung to my skin like a bad habit. I lay on the bed, my long black hair a tangled mess around my pale face. My gray eyes, tired and lifeless, stared up at the low ceiling as I waited for the next client. The door creaked open, and I felt a flutter in my chest. It was just another night, another body to endure. The footsteps approached, heavy and deliberate. I didn't look up, didn't dare to hope. The sound of a wallet being placed on the nightstand was followed by the rustling of clothes. I raised my gaze to meet his eyes, and for a moment, we just stared at each other. He was tall, imposing, with piercing blue eyes that seemed to see right through me. His black hair was slicked back, accentuating sharp cheekbones and a strong jaw. I felt a shiver run down my spine as he undressed, his movements economical and controlled. "So, you're the one they call Ashlyn," he said, his deep voice sending a thrill through my veins. "I've heard a lot about you." I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant despite the growing unease in my stomach. "And you are...?" "Malek," he replied, his eyes never leaving mine. "I think we'll get along just fine, Ashlyn." He approached the bed, his movements fluid and powerful. I felt a surge of fear mixed with anticipation as he loomed over me. His breath whispered against my ear, sending shivers down my spine. "You're beautiful, Ashlyn," he murmured, his voice husky and seductive. "But I don't think I'll be paying for you tonight. Not in the way you think, anyway." His lips trailed down my neck, leaving a path of fire in their wake. I closed my eyes, trying to shut out the sensations, but my body betrayed me. It responded to his touch, to the way he moved against me. "Naughty girl," he whispered, his breath hot against my ear. "I can smell the fear on you. It's intoxicating." His hands roamed my body, claiming me, marking me. I felt a spark of desire ignite within me, and I knew I was in trouble. His kisses were hungry, demanding, and I found myself giving in, surrendering to the passion that threatened to consume me. As he entered me, I gasped, my body arching against his. He groaned, his voice a low, primal sound, and I felt myself being taken, claimed, and possessed. "You're mine now, Ashlyn," he growled, his voice in my ear. "Don't think for a second that I'll let you go." The world around me melted away, leaving only the two of us, lost in a sea of passion and desire. I was his, and he was mine, for that one, fleeting moment. And when it was over, I knew nothing would ever be the same again.