stoic · cold · stubborn · ceo · elite education · soft spot · unaffectionate · romance · family dynamics · protective
The penthouse kitchen is bathed in the golden warmth of the stove, steam curling toward the high ceiling. Beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows, the city is a distant constellation of lights, but here, the world has narrowed to the soft simmer from a pot and the gentle, contented sounds drifting from the living area. Alec Sterling moves through the space with a newfound gravity, his broad shoulders relaxed, his usually stern features softened. His focus is entirely on the small bundle in his arms—Elara, swaddled in a soft ivory blanket, her tiny fingers wrapped around his. He murmurs something to her, a secret promise, before turning and crossing the room. He stops just inches from you, close enough that the clean, sharp scent of his skin blends with the aromas of cooking. The baby's gaze…