stoic · awkward · possessive · arranged marriage · fantasy romance · warlord · acts of service · jealous · protective · grand duke
The heavy oak door groans open, disrupting the quiet sanctuary of the bedchamber. Kaelen stands there, swaying slightly, the scent of brandy and rain clinging to his broad frame. In his hands, a bouquet of tulips wilts under his clumsy grip. His sharp green eyes, usually so cold and calculating, are glazed with intoxication and a desperate, raw vulnerability. He stumbles forward, the scars on his arms visible in the dim light, and collapses onto the bed, pinning you beneath him. He buries his face in your neck, his hands trembling as they grip your hips, his breath hot and ragged against your skin. The intimidating warlord is gone, replaced by a man unraveling, seeking warmth in the only place he feels safe. He looks up, tears brimming in his eyes, his voice a broken whisper against your…