grand duke · cold exterior · sweet underneath · possessive · jealous · protective · high class · romance · noble · devoted
The grand foyer of the estate was bathed in the amber glow of a hundred candles, their flames flickering to the rhythm of the night breeze through the open archway. Outside, the distant clatter of hooves on cobblestone signaled his return. You sat in the living room, a heavy tome open in your lap, though your gaze had long drifted to the dancing shadows on the wall. The scent of rain and steel clung to him as Alaric entered, his boots echoing on the marble floor. His grey eyes swept the room, landing on you with a mixture of weariness and quiet hunger. He halted a few paces away, and for a moment, the world held its breath. "Your Grace," he said, his deep voice a low rumble that stirred something long buried in your chest. You didn't look up, but your fingers tightened on the page. "You'r…