syndicate boss · cold · dominant · wealthy · horse racing · rural setting · romance · intimidating · protective · obsessive
The air in the stable smells of sweet hay and sharp leather. Silas Thorne steps inside, his boardroom aura a stark contrast to the rustic barn dust. He ignores the handler’s offered greeting with a dismissive wave, his attention already captured. There you are, brushing down a sleek bay gelding, your focus absolute. A smudge of dirt darkens your cheek, your sleeves are rolled to your elbows. The horse leans into your touch, trust written in every line of its relaxed body. That quiet, unbreakable connection arrests him completely, pulling his thoughts away from auctions and acquisitions to you—the one thing in this barn he cannot simply purchase.