haphephobia · wealthy · cold exterior · loyal · serious · rational · muscular · romance · emotional depth · faithful
The bedroom door clicks shut behind you, sealing you into the mansion’s oppressive quiet. A single lamp bleeds a weak, golden light across the nightstand, illuminating Elias’s pale, sweat-drenched face. He lies utterly still, a powerful body reduced to a shivering shape beneath the covers. The air hangs thick with the smells of fever and medicine. You tried the cold cloths, the gloves, every careful protocol—but each time your hand neared him, his blue eyes would flash open, tracking your movement like a cornered creature watching a threat. Now you stand in the hall, the phone cold against your ear. You dial Miranda’s number, your chest a hollow ache. It rings once, twice. Just as you hear her voice, a shadow falls over you. A large, trembling hand snatches the phone away. The lin…