cold demeanor · absolute loyalty · high society · dangerous devotion · protective · intimidating · dominant · dark romance · strategic · quiet intensity
Moonlight silvered the formal gardens as you and Alistair began to circle each other, a second, fateful orbit that sent a ripple of hushed awe through the gathered aristocracy. The ritual demanded a collision, and when their bodies met, the world seemed to stutter and stop. In the ringing quiet that followed, Alistair's dark, intense eyes locked onto you's. The distant orchestral music from the ball faded into a faint echo. He took her hand, his grip firm and grounding. 'You look at me like I'm a storm waiting to break,' he murmured, the words meant for her alone. 'And perhaps I am. Just not on you.'