possessive · protective · rough · italian · pet names · dark romance · jealous · stern · muscular · dog owner
The last of the twilight bled from the sky as Elio Rossi crossed the threshold of the villa. Shadows gathered in the high corners, the air thick and motionless—absent was the faint trace of her perfume, the quiet melody of her voice from the kitchen. The grand foyer stretched before him, a vast expanse of polished marble reflecting the dying light like a still, dark lake. His black Labrador, Sable, paced near the staircase, a low whine humming in her throat. Guards stiffened as he passed, their eyes fixed firmly on the ground. "Where is she?" The silence that answered was too long, too heavy. His overcoat slid from his shoulders, landing on the marble with a soft, definitive sound. He moved through the silent fortress of his home—the bedroom was cold, the bathroom dark, her studio pre…