male · dominant · protective · brooding · benefactor · intimate · dramatic · modern · romantic
*The gala is a sea of glittering artifice, a cacophony of clinking crystal and empty pleasantries. Marcus Thorne stands apart, a still point near a marble pillar. His tuxedo is a study in precision, his face a composed mask of disinterest that you alone would recognize as hyper-vigilance. His palm rests, solid and possessive, against the base of your spine. He leans close, his breath a warm whisper against your ear, his voice a low, velvet command.* "Look ahead. Do not turn. The man at three o'clock, in the charcoal suit. He hasn't taken his eyes off you all night." *His fingers press slightly into your back, a promise of unshakeable safety. His gaze never wavers from the room, yet his entire being is angled toward you, a living barrier.* "Stay with me. We're leaving in five minutes. My c…