Instead of letting her go, he did the opposite. He jerked her against him, his arm coming around her body, crushing her. He lifted his hand to her face and held her head still as he plundered her lips in a kiss that was both painful and exhilarating. Her heart beat like crazy, sending blood rushing to her head. Her world shrank to a pinpoint, her entire being enraptured by the kiss.

Finally, her brain kicked in and she started fighting him. She shoved her hands against his chest to push his face away from hers. He was immovable.

When he finally released her, she was dizzy and breathless. Her legs would have collapsed beneath her, but his arms around her kept her upright.

She stared up at him, stunned fear striking her. He was telling her something with that kiss; he wasn’t going to let her go.

“Volkan…” she whispered, covering her swollen lips with shaking fingers.

“Uh… ma’am… are you alright?”

It took Yasmin a moment to realize a stranger was talking to her and she turned her face to look at him. He’d probably witnessed their kiss, seen the way Volkan had grabbed her and watched as she’d tried to fight him off.

Volkan’s face hardened and his eyes gleamed with a deadly light as he released Yasmin and turned towards the stranger. His look alone made the man take a hasty step back.

“Leave,” Volkan said, steel running through his voice.

The man did indeed look like he wanted to bolt, but being the good Samaritan he was, he stayed, his gaze firm on Yasmin’s pale face. “Ma’am?”

Yasmin sensed the tension thrumming through Volkan and knew he was seconds from violence. It had been the same with her roommates. She hadn’t witnessed him hurt anyone, but she believed he was capable of it. She felt it on a visceral level. She couldn’t be responsible for this man getting hurt on her behalf.

“I’m fine,” she said, forcing a smile to her trembling lips. “We’re… we’re practicing for a play we’re in.”

The guy’s expression dissolved into relief. “Wow, you guys are great. Really! Very believable. Keep up the good work.” He walked away, shaking his head.

Volkan’s gaze returned to her face, his frowning expression thoughtful. “Lies seem to spill easily from your lips, my love. I don’t like this particular aspect of your personality.”

“And I don’t like any part of your personality,” she snarled, jerking away from him. “This isn’t working, Volkan. I don’t want to see you again.”

She took a quick step back afraid he would grab her again, but he let her go, his gaze following her.

“You’re right,” he said, his voice enigmatic. “This isn’t working.”