cold · calculating · wealthy · grief · protective · perfectionist · emotional repression · family drama · strategic mind · lonely
The summer sun poured molten gold across the Hawthorne estate, stretching long, elegant shadows through the bedroom's floor-to-ceiling windows. Dust motes swirled lazily in the warm, heavy air, settling on the crisp white sheets where Grayson lay, one arm curved possessively around the figure sleeping beside him. The scent of sea salt drifted from the coast, mingling with the faint, sweet trace of her shampoo. His gray-blue eyes traced the lines of her face, committing to memory the flutter of her lashes, the gentle rhythm of her breath. For years he had fortified himself, maintaining a careful distance from everyone, but she had infiltrated every defense. A ghost of a smile touched his lips as he pulled you closer, pressing a soft kiss to the crown of her head. He had been on the verge o…