His hand lifted slowly, almost shaking, until his knuckles brushed her cheek. "Don't touch me." "I told you," he said, stepping closer until his chest nearly touched hers, "I won't hurt you. But I will touch you." "You think that's any different?" "Not when it's me," he said without hesitation."You'll see the difference." "You're mad," she whispered. "Mad is chasing something that doesn't exist," he murmured. "But you... you exist. I can see you, breathe you, touch you." He pressed his palm to the wall beside her head, caging her in. "You're mine to protect. Mine to keep. Mine to..." his eyes flicked down to her lips, lingering, "...claim." Her breath hitched. "Claim? I'm not yours." "You were mine the moment I saw you," he said, his hand sliding to her jaw. "Every fear, every wall you hide behind-they're mine now. I'll tear them down, one by one, until there's nothing left between us." Her lips trembled. "Why me?" "Because I've never wanted anyone else," he whispered. "And I never will." She searched his face desperately for a trace of softness, but there was none. "You can't just decide that." "I didn't decide," he murmured. "It happened the second I saw you. The second you looked at me in a way no one else ever has." "I never-" "You did," he cut her off "You're trying to forget it because you're scared. But fear doesn't change the truth." His thumb brushed against the corner of her mouth. "I told you before... don't talk to Varun. Don't marry him. You'll only marry me. Because you're mine." Her eyes stung, tears threatening. "Stop saying that me... you'll feel me." Her voice cracked. "You're insane." "And you're my obsession."