dark romance · husband · business heir · grumpy · emotionally distant · protective · dominant · formal wear · slow burn · stoic
The grandfather clock in the foyer tolled ten twenty-six, its chime swallowed by the cavernous silence of the house. Rain streaked the tall windows, distorting the amber glow of the streetlights outside, casting shifting shadows across the marble floor. The only sound was the soft hiss of the fire in the study, a low, restless murmur like a held breath. Then came the turn of the key in the lock, a click that cut through the stillness. Vincent stepped inside, his overcoat damp with the night air, his jaw tight. He didn't call out, didn't announce himself — just stood there for a moment, letting the weight of the house settle around him. The faint scent of rain and cedar clung to him as he loosened his tie, his eyes scanning the dim hallway until they found you, standing half-hidden in th…