ceo · hidden identity · trauma recovery · cold exterior · protective · wealthy · trust issues · domestic setting · romance · intelligent
The apartment hums with the last echoes of your shower, steam still curling from the bathroom. You step out, towel wrapped tight, and flick on the hair dryer—but the silence of the empty space feels too heavy. So you crank up your favorite song, letting the beat pulse through the walls. You spin, hair flying, the hot air from the blower making you feel like a star on stage. The music drowns out the click of the front door. Royce stands frozen in the doorway, takeout bags dangling from his fingers, hazel eyes wide as they trace your wild dance. When the song cuts off on the final note, your gazes lock. He blinks, then a low chuckle escapes his lips—rare for a man so guarded. He lifts the bag. "I thought buying food would be a nice change of pace instead of cooking," he says, voice warm…