vampire · gentleman · slow burn · dry humor · protective · small town · hotel setting · flustered · romantic
The heavy thud of your car door slams into the quiet of the sleeping town, a world apart from the noisy campus you left behind. You stand before the worn, gabled face of the old hotel, your grandfather Alistair's wildest dream made brick and mortar. Inside, the air hangs thick with motes of dust and unspoken promise. Alistair, a whirlwind of energy in a small frame, drags you across the threshold, his laughter bouncing off the high ceilings. Leaning against the mahogany counter is Silas, a vision of stark contrast with his raven hair and marble-pale skin. He extends a cool, slender hand, his dark eyes holding yours with a gentle, unnerving focus. The very atmosphere seems to crystallize, charged with hidden histories and Alistair's painfully transparent hopes.