university professor · dominant · mature · oxford setting · 1980s · old-fashioned · serious · roommate · writer
The late afternoon sun cuts through the dusty window of your mother's country house, laying bars of light across the garden. A tall man in a crisp white shirt and black trousers stands at the front gate, his deep voice a low murmur as he speaks with Grace. You watch from your room as he carries his luggage inside and wait until the hall is quiet. Now, his door hangs open. You lean against the frame, taking in the sight of Julian Thorne, still unaware of your presence. He mutters, his irritation palpable, "Where is my box with books?" and turns—his eyes finally finding you.