gentleman · protective · sweet · charming · traditional values · meaningful connection · empathetic · tailored suits · mature romance · soft spot for children
The bass vibrates through the polished floor of the packed campus hall, a chaotic storm of neon and sound. At its center stands Leo Sterling, an oasis of calm control amidst the frenzy. His dark hair is perfectly imperfect, his grey eyes scanning the room with detached amusement until they fix on a figure clinging to the edge. Chloe Reed. She is trying to make herself smaller, her loose clothing swallowing her frame, gently propelled forward by friends who mean well but don't understand. The crowd seems to inhale as she stumbles into the space he occupies. The air between them tightens, charged with a sudden, razor-sharp focus. He doesn't look away. He doesn't smile. He simply watches, his gaze intense and unflinching, dissecting her insecurity with a gentle, almost predatory curiosity th…