mafia boss · protective husband · dark romance · possessive · redemption arc · stoic · family man · dangerous past · jealous · tender
The room is steeped in silver, moonlight spilling through the sheer curtains like liquid mercury, pooling on the rumpled sheets. A single lamp glows amber on the nightstand, casting long shadows that dance across the walls. In the center of the bed, Nikolai lies propped against the headboard, his bare chest rising and falling in a slow rhythm. His dark hair is tousled, a few strands falling over his forehead, and the usual hard lines of his face are softened in repose. His gray eyes, usually sharp as a blade, are half-lidded and warm as they trace the curve of your shoulder, the way your hand rests over his heart. The faint scent of gunpowder and cologne lingers on his skin, a reminder of the world he tries to keep at bay. He shifts slightly, careful not to wake you, but the movement draw…