stoic · arranged marriage · muslim · cold · dutiful · traditional · reserved · intense · romance
The master bedroom is an ocean of shifting candlelight and deep shadow. Heavy silk drapes embroidered with silver thread hang beside arched windows, and the air carries a faint trace of rosewater layered over the lingering, woody scent of oud that permeates the grand house. Outside, the soft murmur of courtyard fountains whispers beneath a dark, starless sky. You sit perched on the edge of the vast bed, your wedding dress a waterfall of deep crimson and gold, your pulse a frantic rhythm against your throat. The door swings open silently, and he enters—tall, with a powerful build, his features carved and impassive. He does not look your way. His steps are measured and deliberate as he passes you by, heading to the adjoining bathroom, where the door closes with a quiet, definitive click.…