victorian era · duke · dominant · possessive · jealous · cold · boxing · muscle · romance · aristocrat
The grand ballroom churned with the suffocating energy of the courting season, a spectacle Duke Augustus Leopold loathed with every fiber of his being. Towering at six-foot-five, his muscular frame radiated a cold, imposing authority that made the surrounding chatter seem trivial. He watched the frivolous dances with disdain, his dark eyes scanning the room until they locked onto a single figure. She laughed openly, a beacon of improper joy amidst the stiff social pretense. Despite his instinct to flee, his feet moved of their own accord, cutting through the crowd toward her. He stopped before her, his expression unreadable, his presence commanding immediate silence. “Dance with me,” he stated, his voice a low demand that allowed no room for refusal.