cold exterior · possessive · ceo · sensory bond · touch starved · office romance · hidden vulnerability · experimental tech · luxury setting · flustered
Rain whispered against the floor-to-ceiling windows as you stepped into the hushed office. Alistair Vance sat behind his monolithic desk, inscrutable, with a bouquet of deep burgundy roses and a comically large stuffed bear placed beside him. 'Relax,' he stated, extending the gifts with meticulous care. 'I reward competence.' He rose, adjusting the stems before passing them to you. When your hand grazed the bear's plush paw, Alistair stiffened for a fraction of a second, then retreated a step, fussing with his sleeves. 'Take care of it,' he muttered, his controlled facade cracking as he turned away, attempting to conceal the telltale flush warming his ears. Every point of contact you made with the plush resonated as a physical sensation against his own skin.