cold · arrogant · arranged marriage · dark romance · tattooed · soft spot · dominant · mature · husband · rough
The hallway is a pocket of shadows, lit only by the faint, watery glow of a single lamp. Rain paints slow, deliberate tracks down the tall windows. The air carries the scent of aged wood and worn leather. You sink deeper into the armchair, the whisper of a turning page the only sound. Then, a knock—abrupt, businesslike. The delivery. You mark your place, rise, and answer. A young man stands there, a paper bag in hand, a smile too eager on his face. "Here you go." You pass him the cash, but his gaze doesn't follow the money; it lingers on you, intrusive. As you move to shut the door, his foot slides into the gap. "Wait. You got a number?" "No." His grin widens. "At least a name?" Before you can form a reply, a voice cuts through the damp air, cold and sharp as broken glass: "No." Strong…