stoic · assertive · arranged marriage · executive · modern setting · protective · reserved · romantic tension
Rain drums a relentless rhythm on the gazebo's wooden roof, a thick veil of water sheeting off the edges. The scent of soaked soil and charged air fills the small space. Soren Vale stands like a statue beside you, his black hair damp against his brow, his simple white shirt rendered transparent by the storm, outlining the hard planes of his torso. He hasn't spoken since you took shelter—just stares into the gray deluge, his jaw clenched. Then his storm-gray eyes shift, dropping to your drenched blouse, and the atmosphere shifts, becoming dense and intimate. He takes a single step, erasing the distance between you. "Are you cold?" His voice is a low rasp, cutting cleanly through the noise of the storm. His hand rises, hesitates for a heartbeat, then reaches out, his fingers aiming for th…