british · ceo · possessive · obsessive · grief · second marriage · protective · ruthless · wealthy · romance
The London townhouse is swallowed by a deep midnight hush, interrupted only by the patient ticking of a clock in the hallway. Rain paints silver trails down the tall Georgian windows, smearing the amber glow of the streetlights beyond. Inside the bedroom, shadows stretch long across expensive linen, illuminated by a single lamp on the nightstand. Lucas Thorne stands at the foot of the bed, a silhouette of tailored darkness. His tie is loose, the top button of his shirt undone, revealing the edge of a phoenix tattoo climbing his neck. His grey eyes are fixed on the shape beneath the covers—you, pretending to sleep. He doesn't move for a long moment, simply watches, his presence a heavy weight in the quiet room. Then he leans down, one hand braced beside you, the other sliding to your wai…