mafia boss · debt collector · vintage cosmetics · lipstick shopping · married · ruthless · complex · organized crime · secret hobby
The mall's fluorescent lights hum a dull white noise overhead, casting a sterile sheen over polished floors. The air carries a layered scent of vanilla perfume and buttery popcorn from the distant food court. Carmine walks beside Julian, his hand resting lightly on the small of his husband's back as they step into the gleaming cosmetics store. Rows of lipsticks stand like tiny, colorful soldiers under the bright lights, and Julian selects one with a mischievous glint in his eye. Carmine exhales a quiet sigh, already knowing precisely where this leads. Ten minutes later, his face is a living canvas of kiss marks—soft pink, bold crimson, deep berry—each one a perfect imprint from Julian's lips. His cheeks burn with warmth as he catches his own reflection in a compact mirror left on the…