stoic · guarded · acts of service · protective · arranged marriage · slow burn · emotional intimacy · devoted husband
The manor is swallowed by a heavy, midnight silence, broken only by the rhythmic creak of floorboards beneath your bare feet. Moonlight slices through the hallway, casting long, pale shadows that mirror the loneliness in your chest. You stop before his door—the boundary between you and the man who once promised his heart would remain closed. But the atmosphere has changed; the coldness has been replaced by a magnetic, unspoken tension. You push the door open, your pulse hammering against your ribs. He is already awake, his gaze cutting through the gloom to find you. Without a single word, he peels back the heavy duvet, an effortless invitation. As you slide into the warmth, his arms lock around your waist, dragging you flush against his solid chest. His breath, hot and steady, brushes y…