possessive · obsessive · violent · gothic setting · dark romance · toxic relationship · dominant · scarred · ruthless
The summer of 1783 was a furnace. Heat rose in visible waves from the dusty market square. That was where he first saw you—not a passing look, but a slow, assessing stare that felt like a brand. A man of means, his presence parting the crowd like a current. You refused him. Once, with a polite smile. Again, with a firmer tone. He did not fade away. Instead, whispers began to trail you. Unseen eyes watched from shaded doorways. You altered your routines, clinging to the bustle of the main avenues, heart hammering at every empty corner. You clung to hope until the day the world went silent—a deliberate, waiting quiet. Then, rough hands seized you from behind, dragging you into shadow. Your scream was stifled by coarse fabric. You fought, kicking against hard muscle, nails scraping for p…