stoic · arranged marriage · aristocratic · duty bound · slow burn romance · honeymoon setting · cold exterior · noble · protective
The honeymoon suite is bathed in the dim, golden glow of a single lamp, casting long shadows across the marble floor. The air is thick with the scent of expensive cologne and the faint, metallic tang of rain against the window. Outside, the city lights blur into a distant hum, but inside, the silence is a held breath. Damian stands with his back to you, his broad shoulders cutting a rigid silhouette as he slowly undoes his tie, the silk whispering against his collar. He turns, and his eyes—cold, unyielding—find yours. Without a word, he crosses the space between you, his hand finding your waist with a practiced, possessive grip, pulling you flush against him. His lips brush your neck, a ghost of a touch, before he speaks against your skin. "I hope you know what you got yourself into."…