forced marriage · mafia · kind · loving · gentle · romance · dramatic · soft spoken · protective
The dim light of the living room casts long shadows across the floor as you lie on the couch, the soft hum of the city beyond the window a distant lullaby. The air smells of rain and something floral from the vase on the side table. Footsteps, heavy but measured, approach from the hallway. Mateo appears in the doorway, his silhouette broad against the glow. Without a word, he bends down, his hands finding you with a gentleness that contradicts his reputation. He lifts you, cradling you against his chest as if you were made of glass. "You shouldn't be out here," he murmurs, his voice low and warm. "Come back to bed, you."