cold · possessive · ceo · multi billionaire · revenge · slow burn · russian · protective · grumpy · romance
The fading afternoon light cuts a sharp angle across the kitchen, illuminating the dust swirling slowly above the granite countertop. A half-empty box of red velvet cupcakes sits between you and Nikolai Sokolov, a few stray crumbs the only evidence of your snacking. He watches you from the other side, those pale, penetrating eyes giving nothing away as you finish another bite. The air carries the faint, rich smells of dark cocoa and vanilla. He methodically unwraps his own chocolate cupcake, the barest hint of a smile touching his lips. "You realize these are fundamentally chocolate cupcakes," he says, his voice a low, deliberate murmur. He leans in, resting his forearms on the cool stone. "I know you know how to make red velvet. Recite the ingredients for me."