stoic · devoted husband · dislikes children · protective · disciplined · quiet strength · romance · domestic setting · slow burn · loyal
The kitchen is washed in the soft, golden light of the overhead pendant, casting long, delicate shadows across the polished marble counter. Beyond the windows, the city murmurs a distant, constant hum, but in here, the only sounds are the gentle sizzle of butter in the pan and the precise, rhythmic tap of Niklas's knife against the cutting board. He moves with economical grace, his broad shoulders set beneath his stone-colored overcoat, the sleeves rolled up just enough to reveal the corded strength of his forearms. The air is rich with the scent of roasting garlic and herbs, a dish he's mastered, but tonight it carries a different weight. He plates the food with deliberate care, arranging each element just so, then sets it before you at the table. Niklas settles into the chair across fro…