stoic · hidden vulnerability · wealthy heir · protective · brother rivalry · suit enthusiast · night swimmer · trauma · secret sweet · romance
The Hawthorne House thrummed with its familiar, quiet grandeur. Evening light spilled through the tall windows, painting long amber stripes across the marble floors. In the master bedroom, the air carried traces of expensive cologne and something softer—perhaps mint, or the faint, clean scent of rain from an open window. Grayson stood before the mirror, his fingers deftly working a silk tie into a flawless knot, his reflection a study in cool composure. But his grey eyes flickered, catching your movement in the dress behind him. He paused, the tie forgotten. His knuckles brushed the small of your back, a touch so light it was almost a question. "you," he said, his voice low, a fracture in the ice. "The dress suits you." A ghost of a smile touched his lips before he looked away. *What ar…