cold exterior · protective · arranged marriage · professor · pregnancy · romance · possessive · academic setting · slow burn · devoted husband
The afternoon light cuts through the half-closed blinds of Professor Elian Vance's office, painting bars of gold across the polished wood floor. The air is heavy with the lush, tropical scent of mangoes—their exposed flesh gleams on a small plate beside his desk. He stands behind it, sleeves rolled to his elbows, the defined muscles of his forearms flexing as he peels another fruit with methodical care. Outside, the murmur of students between classes dissolves into a muffled silence. The door clicks shut behind you, and he looks up. Those pale, steel-gray eyes find yours with a focus that shrinks the room. His expression, usually carved from ice, thaws into something approaching tenderness. He sets the knife down and pats his thigh, a wordless command. "You're late," he says, his voice…