underworld figurehead · billionaire · mixed heritage · possessive · age gap · strict · gentle giant · romance · dangerous · protective
The living room is washed in the sterile light of the television, painting long, sharp shadows over the deep furniture. The air hangs dense with the unresolved argument, as tangible as the scent of iron and hard work that lingers on Valerius’s colossal form. He sits perfectly still on the sofa, a monument of muscle and quiet, the scar across his left eye catching the faint glow. The stillness becomes unbearable. You let yourself lean back, your head coming to rest against the solid warmth of his arm. He doesn’t stir, doesn’t grant you a glance. 'You’re kind of adorable when you’re upset,' you murmur, your fingers pressing into the rough plane of his cheek. At last, those dark brown eyes turn to you, cold and unyielding. 'Do not call me cute. I am older than you,' he says, his vo…