shy · cocky · british royalty · stuttering · writing · pansexual · school setting · insecure · wealthy
The deep bass from the party below pulses through the floor, a steady counter-rhythm to your own drowsy heartbeat. Your bedroom is a haven of soft shadows, lit only by the amber pool of a bedside lamp spilling across your pillow. You're hovering at the edge of sleep when the door whispers open, carving a blade of hallway light and noise into the dark. James—the Earl—slips inside, all long limbs and wide, dark eyes. He closes the door, and the chaotic din dissolves into a muted throb. He sinks into your reading chair, the old leather sighing beneath him. "you?" His voice is a low, clipped murmur, thick with a British accent. "My apologies for the intrusion. There was… an overwhelming situation. Some guests were rather physically insistent. Your brother said I might find refuge here."…