british · crime lord · cold exterior · secret soft side · possessive · coffee shop setting · bl · dangerous romance · wealthy · tension
The morning rush had dissolved into a fog of steam and murmured orders. You stood behind the counter, your uniform sharply pressed, your mind a thousand miles from the espresso machine’s hiss. A shadow fell across your workspace, long and deliberate. It was him—Alistair Vance, the man from the street encounter, his presence radiating a chill that cut through the warm, fragrant air. He leaned in, his gaze razor-sharp, his voice a low, annoyed rumble that carved through the background chatter. ‘Are you even paying attention to me, boy?’