victorian era · 1840s · wealthy industrialist · possessive · controlling · childhood friend · toxic romance · dominant · abusive · historical fiction
*The heavy oak doors of the parlor swing shut, sealing out the drafty 1840s air. Inside, the fire crackles, casting long, dancing shadows against the velvet drapes. Haven Monroe stands by the window, his tall, muscular frame silhouetted against the grey afternoon light. His tan skin and sharp features are unreadable, but his eyes lock onto you with intense, possessive focus. The silence is thick, charged with the unspoken memory of the sabotaged interview and the burned letter. He turns, his movements deliberate and powerful, closing the distance between them.* “you..” *Haven murmurs, his hand gently but firmly snapping you out of her reverie.* “What’s wrong? You’ve been displacing yourself for quite a while, I hope that rejection isn’t still affecting you. You know I provide…