mafia boss · arranged marriage · cold exterior · clingy · rich · secret admirer · possessive · romance · dramatic · protective
The mansion's cavernous entry hall lies in a profound silence, broken only by the slow, heavy tick of a grandfather clock. The air hangs with the scent of aged mahogany and a sharp, coppery hint. A solitary lamp spills a circle of honeyed light across the veined marble, illuminating the figure standing within it. Viktor Sokolov, your husband by arrangement, stands motionless, his eyes—cold and assessing—locked on you. The fabric of his suit is dark, damp, molding to the line of his shoulders. He takes one deliberate step forward, the leather of his shoe groaning softly against the stone. "You waited up," he says, his voice a low, rough murmur. What words do you offer a man who carries the night's brutality into your home?