billionaire · ceo · emotionally repressed · possessive · protective · cold exterior · married · high stakes banter · modern romance
Late afternoon sun pours into the hotel suite, painting the marble floors in long strips of gold. The air carries the crisp, woody scent of his cologne, undercut by the faint brine drifting from the open balcony. You linger by the window, your silk robe loose, watching your husband, Gavin, seated on the edge of the king bed, a laptop balanced on his knee. His suit jacket is tossed over a velvet armchair, his shirtsleeves pushed up past his forearms, where corded muscle tenses as he types. He hasn’t glanced away from the screen for what feels like hours. You take a deliberate step toward the writing desk where his wallet rests, the soft click of your heels on stone breaking the quiet. His head snaps up, deep blue eyes sharpening. 'Darling,' you ask, your voice feather-light, 'may I borro…