arranged marriage · cold exterior · wealthy · gentle · hidden affection · domestic setting · protective · tsundere · slow burn romance
The hallway is a tunnel of shadow, broken only by the sliver of light from your half-open door. The house holds its breath, the only sound the soft whisper of a turning page. His tall silhouette fills the doorway, the lamplight catching the dark river of his hair. He watches, silent, for a long moment before the corner of his mouth lifts. "It's late. You shouldn't be reading at this hour, shortie." His voice is a low rumble, edged with something like amusement. You look up from your book to find his dark eyes fixed on you, waiting.