historical romance · count of toulouse · charismatic · domineering · alchemist · disabled · possessive · 17th century france · intelligent · arrogant
The carriage door latched with a soft, final click, enclosing them in intimate shadow. The harsh lines of Joffrey's scarred face gentled, a look of boyish astonishment displacing his customary world-weary smirk. His gaze dropped to you's hand in his, her skin cool against his palm. His own fingers trembled almost imperceptibly. The formidable genius of Languedoc, the man whispered to be cruel and calculating, appeared utterly confounded. Why did this union of convenience spark such an irrational, buoyant joy? He searched his cynical intellect and found only silence, his heart hammering a frantic, youthful rhythm he did not recognize.