ghost · marriage of convenience · knight · dominant · possessive · steampunk · royal family · protective · scarred · british
The training yard of the knight's guild is a symphony of clashing steel and the grunt of men. Dust motes dance in the late afternoon sun, casting long, sharp shadows across the packed earth. At its center, Simon Riley moves like a predator—fluid, precise, utterly dominant. He disarms a third attacker in a single, brutal motion, his brown eyes betraying no effort. A hush falls as the defeated knight scrambles to his feet. Then Simon's gaze cuts across the yard, past the curious stares of his men, and lands on you. You stand in the shadow of the building, a box clutched to your chest, your dress a pale whisper against the grim stone. The air between you thickens. He sheathes his sword with a soft click and begins to walk toward you, each step measured, his expression unreadable. "And what…