Love me!

Love me!
Arzu stumbled to the floor as she tried to take a few fearful steps back.

Every time her legs met the cold ground, her body shivered. The dark, suffocating air of the room pressed down on her like a ghost. She trembled whether from the chill or the numbness of confronting her past, she couldn’t tell.

The man standing before her… the one who’d lingered in her mind for years making her wonder now and then what he was doing, where he was, whether he was okay…

And now, here he was.

But he wasn’t the Ateş she once knew. His gaze had hardened, grown steel-like. You could no longer read his thoughts.

Hesitantly, she asked,

“Do… you recognize me?”

Ateş turned his head to the side with a subtle crack of his neck. He exhaled deeply through his cigar, surveying her, a knowing smile curling his lips.

“My psychologist says you’re a childhood trauma,” he murmured. “Do you think I recognize you, Arzu?”

Arzu’s face fell. She fell silent. He was right… Once her devoted friend, loving her with childlike innocence, now he had abandoned her with a deep wound.

She swallowed and whispered, “Then… what are you doing here? I mean, why would someone come to a place like this willingly?”

A hollow chuckle escaped him. “And you, Arzu? Why are you here? Why step into this swamp on purpose?”

Arzu realized she’d cornered herself. She drew in a deep breath, and despite her trembling voice, she spoke plainly:

“I have… a matter to settle. There’s a woman here who threatened my son’s and my life. She hired the mafia. I came to find her.”

A dark flicker passed through Ateş’s eyes. His voice sharpened:

“If you wanted, you could’ve found someone to hand her to you. Someone like Yaman Korutürk!”

Arzu’s swallow echoed in her throat.

Her heart pounded as if trying to burst out.

“Do you… know Yaman? Have you been watching me all this time?”

Ateş looked away. “No. I learned by coincidence,” he said, though he didn’t want to admit that it was Yaman. Not yet.

Then, his tone hardened.

“You’re here because you wanted to see him. You wanted revenge.”

Arzu trembled at his tone. She was right… her heart could no longer resist.

“Yes, I wanted that!” she gasped. “He ruined my life. And I’m going to take everything he took from me!”

A sly smile twisted on Ateş’s lips. He rose gently, took a step toward her, and caught her wrist firmly, pulling her close.

“Then show your skill,” he challenged. “What he wanted… is standing right in front of you.”

Arzu looked away.

“What do you mean?” she whispered hoarsely.

Ateş placed his hands on her face, fingertips grazing her cheeks as his breath brushed hers.

“I’m the biggest catch of the year, Arzu,” he murmured. “Everyone wants to be my mistress. Or more…”

Arzu’s skin tingled. Her eyes held terror mixed with curiosity.

“Don’t… please. I’m not that kind of woman.”

Ateş lowered his face and locked eyes with her.

“But you’re stepping into that kind of world, Arzu,” he said. “Why are you unnerved now?”

Arzu stared at those fiery eyes beneath the mask. With resolve, she said,

“I want to leave. Please let me go.” She slipped her arm free and took a step back.

But Ateş pulled her back swiftly.

Arzu’s body, clad in nothing but her underwear, collided with his warm, muscular frame.

His breath was right by her ear, his exhale brushing her face like a spark.

“You’re naked, Arzu…” he growled. “And there are dozens of starving wolves out there waiting for you. Are you trying to drive me insane by stepping outside like this?!”

Arzu struggled to make sense of what was happening. Her heart was pounding against her ribcage.

She murmured, almost to herself,

“What are we going to do? How long do I have to stay here? What… will I wear?”

Ateş’s lips curled into a lustful grin. He slowly leaned in, his mouth hovering near her chin.

“I don’t intend to dress you, Arzu,” he whispered. “On the contrary… I plan to remove that last piece, too.”

Suddenly, he pinned her against the wall, gripping her jaw with firm hands.

He kissed her—wildly, almost violently so deeply that Arzu’s thoughts dissolved, her skin burning under the sudden rush of heat.

Her bare chest met the warmth of his open shirt, and she jolted as if electrocuted.

His hard abs pressed into hers, his knee slipping between her thighs, drawing her closer still.

“Ateş…” Arzu murmured, but she couldn’t finish the sentence.

His hands had found her hips, fingers sliding beneath the delicate fabric, parting the lips of her womanhood and sinking into her flesh.

The dampness, under the heat of his palms, grew more apparent.

Ateş had craved this woman’s skin for years and now, he was burning for her.

His lips moved to her neck, teeth nipping her sensitive skin. Arzu threw her head back, unable to suppress the moan.

His fingers grazed her exposed breasts, now swinging freely in front of him, squeezing her hardened nipples between his fingers until she gasped.

“Can you feel me?” Ateş growled, pushing his knee forward between her legs. “I can feel how wet you are…”

Arzu, breathless, her eyes dark with dizziness, trembled beneath him.

Despite herself, she pushed her hips forward, grinding against the hardness of him.

“Don’t…” was all she could say.

Yes, she missed him. But it was like a child missing a lost toy.

Because when he left her, she had loved him with a pure, naive heart…

And this—this wasn’t what she truly needed.

When Ateş pushed her onto the bed with his strong arms, Arzu gasped. Her back hit the sheets, but storms raged within her.

As his lips trailed down to her collarbone and chest, Arzu closed her eyes—

And in that moment… behind her eyelids, another pair of eyes appeared.

Yaman’s eyes… Those wild, dangerous, passionate moments they shared.

Suddenly, Arzu’s eyes snapped open.

Her body and mind began to flail.

Under Ateş’s touch… she longed for someone else.

With an instinctive shove, she placed her hands on his chest.

“Stop…” she said, her voice hoarse. “There’s someone I like.”

Ateş’s expression froze.

In an instant, all warmth drained from his eyes.

As if he’d been shot in the head.

He backed away but didn’t take his eyes off her.

Jealousy blazed through his veins like wildfire.

He reached for her chin and gripped it hard, almost wanting to hurt her.

“I know you don’t miss your husband,” he growled between clenched teeth. “So who is it?!”

Arzu couldn’t answer. She looked away.

Her heart raced, but her tongue refused to move.

Ateş grew more furious.

“You’re lying to escape!” he snapped.

He wanted her like madness—lust and rage surging in him again, and he pounced once more.

But Arzu started to struggle. She was trapped in his arms.

“Okay, I’ll tell you. Stop!”

“Yaman!” she gasped. “Yaman Korutürk! I like him!”

The name dropped like a bullet into the air.

Ateş’s body tensed.

Lust still coursed through his blood, but that name… that word from her lips hit him in a different place.

His eyes sparkled for a moment.

Something burned inside him but this time, it wasn’t anger.

He couldn’t explain why, but he was fixated on that name.

As if… he was jealous of himself.

A boyish smile tugged at his lips unintentionally.

But he quickly tried to erase it.

He straightened his back and clenched his jaw.

Meanwhile, Arzu slipped off the bed, eyes brimming with tears.

She crouched in a corner, arms crossed over her chest, trembling.

Her heart was shattered.

Ateş inhaled deeply.

Turning his head to hide the smile trying to escape, he steadied himself and faced her again.

“I never heard anything about you two,” he said quietly.

Arzu met his gaze, struggling not to cry.

“Because… I don’t deserve him,” she said. “Yaman is a good man. A clean man. And me…”

She paused. Her voice cracked.

Ateş adjusted his mask, as if hiding a grin.

“So you came here to tell me you’re in love with another man?”

Arzu caught her breath.

“That’s none of your business! A moment ago, you were about to force yourself on me. I said it to make it clear that I don’t want you. Don’t take it personally.”

She lifted her chin, slightly raising her nose.

Something had shifted in her.

She wasn’t afraid anymore—only furious.

Ateş stepped closer, knelt down to meet her eye level.

His gaze softened slightly, his voice deepened.

He was desperately trying to test her love.

“I can give you more than he ever could, Arzu. I’ll help you get your revenge. Wealth, power, safety… You could be the queen of this city. I can offer you a life you couldn’t even dream of.”

Arzu rolled her eyes, her breathing quickened.

“I’m not for sale, Ateş,” she said in a cold tone. “It’s like you don’t know me at all. I don’t want your dirty money or your bloodstained throne. Whatever you give… I know what you’ll take in return.”

Ateş’s lips curled. Not in anger—but in amusement.

“What if I kill that mutt Yaman and take you instead?” he said. “Like you said, I’m the bad guy.”

Arzu’s eyes widened in horror.

Terror washed over her face.

“No. You can’t! Please, Ateş… Don’t be ridiculous. Whatever your problem is, take it out on me! Don’t touch Yaman…”

Ateş watched her.

There she was, shielding herself with her hands, trembling, frightened but also resolute.

That little sparrow… was trying to protect Yaman. Trying to stop him.

And in that moment, something stirred inside him.

Watching Arzu like this lit a spark that was stronger than his rage.

But he couldn’t name it.

For the first time… doubt flickered in Ateş’s eyes.

“Could it be… that this woman truly loved me?”