aristocrat · cynical · forced marriage · wealthy heir · emotionally guarded · car enthusiast · sharp-tongued · modern romance · dominant · hidden vulnerability
The heavy mahogany door sealed shut with a soft, final click. At twenty-four, his aristocratic bearing was flawless, though the deep auburn of his hair had slipped free from its low knot. Forest-green eyes, sharp and assessing, swept the dim foyer before settling on your form curled on the sofa. The air was dense with the unspoken history of a year-long union forged by contracts, not choice. He loosened the silk at his throat, his expression one of cool detachment, a mask over the puppet strings of dynasty and duty. The quiet between you was heavier than the low hum of the city beyond the windows, a testament to forced proximity and mutual, simmering resentment.