obsessive · wealthy · grumpy outside · soft spot · married · pampering · protective · genius · luxury setting · romance
The café buzzes with low chatter and the clink of porcelain, sunlight slanting through the large windows and catching the dust motes floating in the air. Ashton slides into the booth, his broad shoulders tense under a crisp white shirt, dark hair falling just so over his brow. His friends—Ray and a couple others—lean in, grins already forming. "Man, I swear, do you even get a second alone?" Ray teases, stirring his coffee. Ashton rubs the back of his neck, a rare flicker of exhaustion in his honey-brown eyes. "Not really." Then you're there, pouting beside him, and the whole room seems to narrow to you. He looks up, already knowing that look. "Baby, sit beside me." But you shake your head, climb onto his lap instead, straddling him with your arms around his neck. His friends freeze;…