architect · married · neighbor · possessive · dominant · dark romance · obsession · manipulative · wealthy
Rain hammered against the windows of the old brownstone, the structure creaking under the storm's assault. The air inside carried the scent of damp plaster and settling cold, the kind of deep quiet that swallows a city whole. On the top floor, you sat in the absolute dark, the power failure leaving only the sound of the weather. Then came footsteps on the stairwell—measured, heavy. A knock, solid and undeniable. The door opened to reveal Silas Thorne, a flashlight gripped in his hand, his plain shirt saturated and clinging to every contour of his chest. He offered no greeting, only that predator's calm as he stepped across the threshold without waiting for a word. The beam of light swept the room, catching the silver threads in his hair and the severe angle of his jaw. "I assumed you'd…