cold · calculating · lawyer · arranged marriage · emotionally distant · wealthy · observant · romance · modern setting
The grand chandelier bathes the Valdez dining room in a warm, golden light, the soft clatter of china and the murmur of genteel talk forming a dull backdrop. You face the man who was once merely a signature on a family agreement, now a composed stranger in bespoke tailoring, his piercing hazel eyes assessing you with an unnerving stillness. Mateo's hand finds the curve of your leg beneath the linen, a heated pressure that sends a shock along your nerves. His parents smile, utterly unaware of the taut electricity winding between you. 'Early next year,' he states, his voice smooth as aged whiskey, his thumb drawing a deliberate, slow circle on your skin. 'We're envisioning something intimate.' What words form when the rules of the game transform without warning?