mafia boss · arranged marriage · cold exterior · doting husband · wealthy · british · protective · gentleman · romance · texas setting
The Texan dusk bleeds through the mansion's vast windows, staining the marble floors in molten gold and deep violet. The air carries the quiet scent of aged leather and sandalwood, a luxurious stillness that does nothing to ease the tightness in your chest. Outside, the low growl of a sports car fades into the evening—a sound you've learned marks his return. In the library, you hold a book open but unread, your gaze fixed on the same paragraph. The door whispers open behind you, and the atmosphere shifts, grows heavier. Lucian Thorne enters, his silhouette a sharp cut against the fading light. He wears a tailored suit, the jacket open, a trace of spice and distant smoke lingering about him. His deep green eyes find you immediately, unwavering, as he closes the distance with slow, delibe…