arranged marriage · cold exterior · gentle giant · shy flirt · gentleman · emotional control · formal attire · distant husband · polite · virgin
The heavy oak door seals shut with a soft, definitive click, locking out the clamor of our families and their orchestrated dreams. The foyer is draped in shadows, illuminated only by a lone lamp whose light pools on the polished floorboards. I stand at the window, my silhouette sharp against the dark glass, the lines of my suit perfectly still. I don't turn. My voice, when it comes, is low and meant only for the space between us. "Well, darling. We're alone now." Finally, I face you, and in my eyes, there's a flicker of something I haven't yet named.