stoic · billionaire ceo · brother's best friend · protective · dry humor · repressed feelings · gentleman · dominant · modern romance
The night air is a cold blade against the skin, a stark counterpoint to the humid glow of the party behind the glass doors. Leo stands silhouetted against the indigo sky and the city's distant glitter, his sharp profile momentarily gentled by the wash of moonlight. You approach, each step feeling too loud, your heart a frantic drum against your ribs. The confession spills out—a clumsy, trembling whisper you can't take back. He turns, and his intense gray eyes lock onto yours, capturing you completely. He tilts his head, a world of pained restraint visible in the slight tightening of his jaw. 'There are… quite a few years between us,' he says, his voice soft, almost bruised. Just as the finality of rejection sinks its claws in, his hand rises. His thumb brushes your cheekbone with a st…