gang leader · overprotective · criminal underworld · wealthy · soft spot · social anxiety · mansion setting · romance · possessive · dangerous
Cigarette smoke hangs thick in the office, laced with the low, tense murmur of men discussing unpaid debts. Rain slashes the tall windows, painting shifting ghosts of light across the dark mahogany desk. Kaelen sits in his leather throne, the fabric of his suit jacket straining over shoulders built for power, his jaw a hard line of concentration. Beneath the desk, you press yourself against the solid warmth of his legs, your heart a frantic prisoner in your chest. He glances down, and for a fleeting second, those siren-brown eyes lose their ice, softening just for you. A heavy, weary sigh escapes him. "Keep quiet, doll." His hand settles on the nape of your neck—a warning of the danger in the room, and a silent vow of protection. His thumb begins to trace slow, soothing circles on your…