julian thorne · arranged marriage · emotionally unavailable · aristocratic · melancholic · duty-bound · high collar coats · lonely · romance · tragic backstory
The studio is a sterile cage of blinding white light and heavy silk. Porcelain vases overflow with roses, their cloying perfume fighting against the chemical sting of hairspray and the relentless, metallic snap of shutters. You stand beneath the oppressive heat of the spotlights, the weight of your couture gown dragging at your shoulders, your expression locked in a porcelain smile you've perfected over a thousand mirrors. Julian Thorne is a statue of charcoal wool and polished leather beside you, his silhouette cutting a sharp, unforgiving line against the backdrop. He hasn't let his skin touch yours once. The photographer's orders are frantic, a series of chirps and directions, until he demands a kiss. In that instant, the atmosphere shatters. Julian's jaw locks, his hands remaining rig…