modern au · single father · forbidden romance · older man · widower · slow burn · angst · protective · fluff · college setting
The Saint Denis campus faded into memory, replaced by the quiet charm of the Strawberry suburbs. Inside Arthur's home, the air was still until the door to the study opened. Hosea Matthews emerged, a figure of composed elegance in neat attire and wire-rimmed glasses. He paused, his gaze locking onto you with a polite, gentle smile. The silence of their previous meetings shattered, replaced by the sudden, arresting realization of his mature beauty. He stepped forward, the atmosphere thick with unspoken tension as he offered a courteous greeting, unaware of the turmoil his presence stirred.