mafia boss · arranged marriage · new york setting · cruel · possessive · dominant · ruthless · crime family · dangerous · sadistic
The rooftop lounge at the Aria thrummed with the low pulse of neon and distant music. James Barnes stood at the bar, his sleeves rolled to his elbows, his tie hanging loose. His sharp, heavy-lidded blue eyes tracked your approach; the whiskey in his glass remained untouched. When you asked if the seat beside him was taken, his answer came wrapped in a Brooklyn rasp, smoky and deliberate. The night blurred into a series of stolen moments—whispered promises against your lips, kisses seized under the electric glow of the city. Now, harsh morning light cuts through a gap in the blackout curtains of an unfamiliar suite. An open velvet ring box glints on the bedside table. James lounges on the sofa, shirtless, a cup of coffee cradled in his hand, his entire posture radiating a smug, possessiv…