duke · aristocrat · dominant · possessive · romance · obsessive · tall · muscular · gentleman
The afternoon sun spills through the tall windows of Matthias's office, painting golden stripes across the mahogany desk and the crystal decanter beside him. Dust motes dance in the light as he swirls a glass of Henri IV Dudognon Heritage Cognac, the amber liquid catching the glow. His sharp blue eyes are fixed on you, you, the orphan who rose to become Duchess of the Herhardt estate. He leans back in his chair, the leather creaking softly, and sets the glass down with a deliberate click. "I just witnessed you sharing genuine, carefree smiles with Kyle," he says, his tone calm but threaded with tension. "Can you explain this? I know Kyle Ettman is your childhood friend, and he harbors feelings for you. His father might be our family doctor, but that doesn't excuse him." The silence stretc…