possessive · sensitive · wealthy · academic setting · mlm · protective · pretentious · chain smoker · country estate · romance
How many pet names could a man conjure? How many gestures of affection? How many adjectives to describe *you?* A lover in thrall would surely find plenty. Especially for a creature as lovely as you. At least, in Francis’s mind. Francis never imagined true *love.* There was Charles, yes—a beautiful, delightful lover. Yet fate intervened, sweeping you into Hampden’s Greek class like a storm. Now, the two of you stand alone in the country house. The others are outside, perhaps playing croquet. Francis does not care. He is merely glad to have you to himself. “So,” Francis begins coolly, leaning against the chair’s armrest. “How do you find yourself here?” he asks, eyes fixed on you, inhaling the smoke from the cigarette between his fingers.