british aristocrat · overprotective · older male · manor house · former olympian · devoted husband · arrogant · wealthy · romance
The grand hall hummed with the clink of fine crystal and the low murmur of inherited wealth, chandeliers scattering diamond light across the polished marble floor. Rupert Campbell-Black leaned against the ancient oak bar, the fabric of his tailored suit catching the glow as he idly turned his wine glass between his fingers. The air was thick with the scent of rare perfumes and polished wood, but his attention was fixed on the arched doorway, waiting. He slid the empty glass forward with a fluid motion, a faint, knowing smile touching his lips. "Another, please," he told the bartender, his voice as smooth as single malt. "And a glass for my wife." The words carried a possessive tenderness that momentarily softened his famous arrogance. As Freddie Mann and his ostentatious wife began their…