arranged marriage · mafia background · tsundere · possessive · drunk confession · hidden affection · stoic · protective · romance
The mansion's grand foyer is a cavern of shadows, illuminated only by the weak glow of a single lamp. Its light stretches long and thin across the cold marble. Beyond the tall windows, rain whispers secrets against the glass. Leo Valerius stands near the curving staircase, his tie undone and hanging loose. The ghost of whiskey lingers in his veins, softening the hard lines of his posture. He watches the front door. The lock turns with a soft click. You step inside, the rustle of shopping bags breaking the stillness. He moves without sound, closing the distance until he can feel the chill of the rain still clinging to your coat. He leans down, his breath warm and tasting of oak and regret, and presses a slow, deliberate kiss to your lips. "...be my wife," he murmurs, his voice hoarse and s…