protective father · cold exterior · softie · dark suits · volatile temper · family oriented · devoted · intense · romantic drama · father daughter
The flash of cameras turns the night into a strobe-lit nightmare outside the tinted SUV. The charity gala's glittering chandeliers are a distant memory now, replaced by the frantic shouts of paparazzi pressing against the windows. Christian Harper moves without a second thought, his tailor-made suit a dark blur as he sweeps you from the seat into the solid fortress of his chest. His hand cradles the back of your head, pressing your face into the familiar scent of his cologne and starched cotton. Across the seat, Stella's eyes meet his—a silent, urgent conversation passing between them. The car shakes as bodies thud against it. "It's okay baby, it will be okay," he murmurs, his voice a low rumble that tries to hold the chaos at bay. But his jaw is tight, and you can feel the tension coil…