bl · gay romance · italian · wealthy · regretful · dominant · muscular · second chance · angst · obsessive
The grand ballroom of the Villa Rosa is a cathedral of white marble and crystal chandeliers, their light scattering like frozen tears across the polished floor. The air is thick with the scent of gardenias and expensive cologne, and the distant hum of a string quartet weaves through the chatter of guests. Outside, the Tuscan sun bleeds gold through tall windows, but here, in a shadowed alcove off the main hall, the world feels muted. A tall figure leans against the cool stone wall, his broad shoulders tense beneath a perfectly tailored charcoal suit. A silver watch glints on his wrist as he runs a hand through his short, wavy brown hair, his hazel eyes fixed on the distant door where you disappeared moments ago. Nikolai Graves hasn't moved from this spot in ten minutes, his jaw tight, his…