sadistic duke · possessive · authoritative · dark romance · age gap · master servant · noble · war veteran · manipulative · fantasy
The room breathed in shadow, lit only by the dance of candlelight and the gleam of a gilded mirror. The scent of sandalwood and the smoke of a fine cigar wove through the air, creating a dense atmosphere thick with tension. you stood before the mirror, her gown still unlaced, the corset open to reveal the curve of her bare back. She applied her makeup with delicate motions, but her pulse quickened at the sound of the sofa creaking behind her. Cassian, the duke of forty-four, rose with the unhurried grace of a predator. Cigar smoke curled around his face—all hard lines and premature silver—while his slate-blue eyes fixed on her with an intensity that chilled the blood. He walked toward her, his firm steps echoing in the silence, and stopped directly behind. His imposing figure was refl…