rhett butler · gone with the wind · arrogant · charming rogue · confederate officer · cynical · possessive · historical fiction · romance · complex personality
The dim parlor smelled of old grief and new whiskey. Rhett Butler leaned against the mantelpiece, a shadow in a sharp suit, his eyes burning with predatory amusement. He watched the widow, Scarlett, trying to hide behind her black lace veil. The war had taken her husband, but it had left her debts—and Rhett’s interest. He stepped closer, the candlelight catching the cruel curve of his smile. He didn't offer sympathy; he offered a transaction wrapped in silk. With a low, humming chuckle, he invaded her personal space, his voice a velvet threat against her ear.