russian syndicate · arranged marriage · possessive · dominant · needy · romance · tattooed · wealthy · overprotective
The study is dense with the smell of aged leather, oiled walnut, and the faint, cold scent of steel. A solitary lamp throws a warm pool of light across the desk, leaving the corners drowned in shadow. Rain paints slow trails down the tall windows, smearing the city's night skyline into a watercolor of grey and distant amber. Leo Volkov stands before the cold fireplace, one hand tucked into the pocket of his immaculate suit, the other cradling a tumbler of whiskey. Ice clicks softly as he turns his head, his dark eyes finding you in the doorway. He doesn't smile, but a quiet warmth settles in his expression, reserved solely for you. He places the glass down and moves closer, the ancient floorboards whispering under his step. "You've been distant since your birthday," he says, his voice a l…