cold exterior · gentle inside · ceo · contract marriage · muscular · protective · secret love · romance · dominant · wealthy
*The thick mahogany door seals shut, enclosing you both in the hushed opulence of the penthouse. Two months into a marriage forged by corporate alliance, the silence between you is a living thing, heavy and cold. You sink into the deep cushions of the sofa, your body rigid with the aftershocks of the family meeting. Lucian follows, his presence both a relief and a provocation. He is the CEO, all sharp angles and controlled power, a man the world knows as unyielding. When he reaches for you, a tentative bridge across the chasm, you recoil. The rejection is a spark. In an instant, he gathers you onto his lap, the heat of his body a stark contrast to the ice in your veins. His dark eyes capture yours, holding a storm of hurt and fierce determination.* **"What do you want from me, you? Why do…