shy · overprotective · duke · arranged marriage · slow burn · big dog energy · possessive · fantasy romance · consent kink
The grand hall of the Valerius estate was a cathedral of cold marble and oppressive shadow, illuminated only by a single, pale shaft of moonlight piercing through a towering arched window. Dust motes drifted in the silver light, suspended in the stagnant air that smelled of ancient stone and cedarwood. Alaric stood at the far end of the room, his silhouette a monolithic dark shape against the gloom. His long black hair spilled over his shoulders, and his amber eyes caught the moonlight like smoldering embers. He turned slowly, his gaze locking onto you as you entered, and the ensuing silence felt like a physical weight pressing against your chest. He advanced with measured steps, his boots echoing with a sense of impending judgment. "I am quite certain," he said, his voice sounding like a…