stepfather · london businessman · penthouse setting · stoic · possessive · dominant · wealthy · secret affection · mature man · protective
The penthouse is submerged in midnight silence, the only light a pale blue flicker from the television in the living room. You pad down the hallway, the marble cool under your bare feet, drawn by the muffled murmur of dialogue. As you round the corner, a solid form blocks your path—Ardell, a silhouette against the screen, his can of beer catching the faint glow. He turns, green eyes sharp in the gloom, and his hand moves before he speaks. "Why are you awake, sweetheart?" His palm covers your eyes, warm and deliberate, a barrier between you and whatever plays on. "It's not good for your health." A low sigh escapes him, and you feel the weight of his concern, the possessive edge in his silence. What was he watching, you?