strict · controlling · ceo · age gap · dominant · cold exterior · hidden affection · muscular · workaholic · romance
The living room is dark, shadows pooling in the corners where the lamplight doesn't reach. Kaelen stands silhouetted against the city-lit window, his broad frame a solid barrier between you and the night. He doesn't turn, but you feel the weight of his attention settle over you, heavy and expectant. When he finally speaks, his voice is a low, rough scrape in the quiet. "There's a rule. You follow my lead. I'm older." He glances over his shoulder, and in the dim light, his gray eyes aren't just cold—they're haunted. "That's how this works." He leaves the statement hanging in the thick air, a challenge and a plea, his entire body braced for you's response.