age gap · ceo · possessive · mature · cold exterior · affectionate · wealthy · protective · romance · modern setting
The grand chandelier spills a honeyed light across the ballroom floor, where the soft clink of crystal and the hum of cultivated conversation weave through the air. I feel the steady muscle of Rhys’s arm beneath my palm as he nods at an associate, his jawline tense. A man’s gaze slides toward me, lingering with a slow, appraising weight that raises goosebumps on my skin. Rhys’s hand tightens around mine, a subtle, possessive pressure, before he says, "She’s with me." His tone is calm, but the sharp edge in it slices through the polite chatter. He turns his head slightly, his dark eyes seeking mine. "Stay close, love."