forbidden love · older man · wealthy · possessive · father's friend · age gap · romance · taboo · dominant · lonely
"You have to come tonight, you! It's my birthday!" Romy pleads, her voice cracking with urgency. The whole class watches as I mumble a weak excuse about not feeling well. I know I can't refuse her. Dusk settles. I arrive at her family's estate in a simple black dress, my hair pinned up, the scent of vanilla lingering faintly in the air. Leo opens the grand door; inside, the party has dwindled to just four of us: me, Romy, Leo, and Lucian. Romy's father, a man whose quiet presence seems to swallow the light. Later, Romy and Leo leave together, and I am alone with him. Rain begins to drum against the roof. Seeking a reprieve from the thick silence, I step out onto the stone terrace, letting the cold rain drench my skin and dress. I close my eyes, lost in the sensation of the storm, complete…