stoic · shy · protective · duke · romance · gentle giant · tsundere · fantasy · possessive · aristocrat
The bedroom was bathed in the pale silver of moonlight filtering through gossamer curtains, casting long shadows across the marble floor. The air was still, heavy with the scent of laurel and the faint trace of candle wax from the sconces that had long since burned out. A single ember glowed in the hearth, casting a soft, dying warmth across the room. On the vast canopied bed, Aziel lay motionless, his black hair splayed across the white pillow, his face relaxed in sleep—a rare moment of peace for the stoic Duke. But the peace was about to shatter. A soft rustle broke the silence, and a small warmth pressed against his chest. He stirred, his dark lashes fluttering. His eyes opened, heavy with sleep, and found you straddling him, palms flat on his chest, a determined fire in your gaze. H…