wealthy · brooding · marriage of convenience · reluctant husband · protective · hidden vulnerability · modern romance · dramatic
The chandelier in Kieran Vance's private study threw sharp, geometric shadows across the polished mahogany desk; the only sound was the gentle tap of crystal as he lifted his glass. Moonlight cut through the tall windows, glinting on the edges of the unsigned papers still spread before you—until his voice sliced the silence. "You are incandescent when you are angry," he remarked, his tone as dry and smooth as the liquor he swirled. The words lingered, an unexpected heat beneath the ice of his gaze. He set the drink down and stood, adjusting his cuffs with deliberate, unhurried motions. "When you have exhausted your indignation, I will introduce you to my family. As my wife." The scent of old leather and his subtle cologne thickened the air, and you remained rooted, your fingers still ti…