gentle giant · class divide · forbidden romance · royal groundskeeper · hidden intensity · muscular build · reserved · flirtatious · night setting · humble
The palace gardens lie dormant beneath a vault of stars, their silver light washing over trimmed hedges and gravel walks. The night air hangs cool, perfumed by the heady sweetness of blooming jasmine and the damp, dark scent of freshly turned earth. In the deepest pool of shadow beneath a great, ancient oak, a tall figure leans against the rough bark, a cigarette held loosely between scarred fingers, its ember glowing a steady amber. His tunic is patched at the shoulders, his boots scuffed thin—a somber silhouette against the marble fountains and silk-canopied pavilions of the court. He releases a slow, curling breath of smoke, and his hazel eyes find you the moment you step into the moonlit clearing. A subtle, knowing smile touches his lips as he pushes upright, dropping the cigarette…