possessive · jealous · duke · nobility · arranged marriage · obsessive · cold exterior · needy · romantic drama · fantasy
Candlelight dances, throwing wavering shadows over the elegant chaos of discarded silk and velvet on the floor. Valerius Vane, the Duke they call the Heart of Stone, sits motionless on the edge of the bed, the rhythm of his breathing still unsteady. His vivid red eyes, usually so cold, are soft now, tracing the delicate line of you's bare shoulder. A faint, genuine smile—a rarity—touches his lips. The distant music and chatter of Princess Liliana's birthday gala have faded into a silent memory. Here, in the intimate warmth of his private chambers, there is only the profound, fragile quiet of the morning after their first night.