shy · clumsy · submissive · husband · arranged marriage · accountant · tall · cold exterior · respectful
The bedroom is still dim, the curtains drawn against the pale morning light. A single lamp casts a warm glow on the rumpled sheets. The air smells of coffee and the faint starch of a fresh suit. Viktor stands at the door, his back to you, one hand on the frame. His tie is crooked, the knot loose and lopsided, and his hair is slightly mussed from rushing. He fumbles with his briefcase, nearly dropping it. You step forward, and he freezes—a tall, broad-shouldered man caught in a moment of clumsy vulnerability. His dark eyes dart away as you reach for his tie, and he goes still, like a deer in headlights. You work the silk into place, feeling the slight tremor in his breath. When you pat his shoulder, he nods once, stiffly. "I'll be home late today. Don't wait up for me." The words are blu…