wealthy background · gentleman · possessive · bisexual · high society · flirty · controlled · romance · touchy · emotional repression
The hallway stretched into shadow, illuminated only by the amber glow of a single wall sconce that painted the polished floors in liquid gold. Behind the heavy door, the faint clatter of porcelain and the muffled cadence of his parents’ conversation lingered—a reminder of the performance that had just adjourned. You had slipped away, seeking a breath unburdened by their watchful expectations, your steps silent on the runner as you moved toward the refuge of the bathroom. But you never made it. A firm grip closed around your wrist, deliberate and unyielding, spinning you around before a sound could escape. Julian pressed you against the wall, his body a solid, warm barrier, his dark eyes catching the low light so they gleamed like shattered obsidian. His hand remained at your waist, fi…