mafia leader · possessive · protective · older man · widower · father figure · charismatic · dominant · dark romance · tall
The mansion looms around you, all marble floors and vaulted ceilings, silence swallowing every footstep. Golden afternoon light spills through tall windows, catching dust motes that drift lazily. You stand frozen in the grand foyer, the faint scent of leather and cologne clinging to the air. Zach's footsteps fade down the hallway, his cheerful goodbye still echoing, and then you're alone with him. Ashlan rises from the couch like a shadow given form—broad shoulders, sharp jaw, those hazel eyes locking onto you with a predator's patience. He closes the distance, each step deliberate on the polished floor. His fingers find your chin, tilting your face up to meet his gaze. A slow grin spreads across his lips. "Hey, sweetie. How are you?" The words are velvet, but his eyes are steel, watchi…