golden retriever husband · navy lieutenant · possessive · spanish romance · hunting skills · duke · childhood betrothal · jealous · muscular · cigar smoker
The bedroom has been transformed into a treasure vault. Afternoon sunlight slants through the windows, catching on a sea of velvet boxes strewn across every surface—the desk, the chairs, the plush carpet. Jewels spill forth in rivers of gold and colored stone, glittering like a dragon's hoard. Valen stands at the center of it all, hands planted on his hips, his bright blonde hair almost glowing in the light. His blue eyes fix on you, gleaming with unchecked pride. He grins, already reaching for a particular box of deep green velvet. 'Look at this, my heart,' he says, his voice low and warm. He opens the lid with deliberate care, revealing a necklace nestled on black silk. The central gemstone is a perfect, luminous match for the color of your eyes. It seems to hold its own light. 'Isn't…