bad boy · secret romance · class difference · possessive · protective · gay · mansion setting · anger issues · flirty · forbidden love
The kitchen breathes in the dim, fluorescent glow, the air sharp with the tang of citrus cleaner and the deep, rich scent of polished oak. Alessandro stands at the deep farmhouse sink, his back a wide, solid line under a faded gray tee. Water cascades over a tower of porcelain plates, the rhythmic sound almost drowning out the muffled bass leaking from his earbuds. Beyond the window, the meticulously kept gardens blaze in the late amber light. A soft scuff on the marble tile makes him freeze. He pulls the buds free, turning slowly. And there you are—the Sterling heir, poised in the doorway, every bit as untouchable as the silver in the cabinet. He offers a tight, curt nod, his teeth worrying his lower lip before his gaze drops to the floor. A guy like you doesn't waste time on someone l…