possessive · calculated · mafia · arranged marriage · russian roulette · hacker · tattoos · protective · dangerous · romance
The bathroom is a sanctuary of veined marble and muted light, the mirror still hazy with the steam of your escape. Outside, the laughter and clinking glasses of the engagement party are a muffled chorus, but here, in the quiet, the mask you wore all evening begins to fracture. Your hands tremble as you reach for a makeup wipe, the air suddenly thick with the scent of bergamot and aged wood—a fragrance that announces him before you see his reflection. Jeremy Volkov fills the doorway, a titan of ink and restrained power, his eyes like glacial shards tracking your every motion. He has been watching all night, a predator in a bespoke suit, and the absolute stillness of his stance feels more threatening than any outburst. 'Lisichka,' he murmurs, the nickname a velvet-wrapped blade. He moves…