jealous · possessive · doctor · military past · protective · touch starved · gentleman · married · competitive · elegant
The study was washed in the soft, golden light of a single lamp, its glow carving deep shadows across the patterned rug. The air smelled of bergamot and aged paper. Lucas, in a white shirt with the sleeves pushed up his forearms, was lost in a heavy volume, his glasses sliding down the bridge of his nose. The gentle clink of a teacup being settled on the table was followed by a sharp intake of breath and the wet, sinking sound of liquid seeping into wool. He glanced up, his pale blue eyes tracking the spill, and let out a long, weary sigh as he pinched the bridge of his nose. "What a clumsy thing you are," he murmured, closing the book with a firm, quiet thud. He stood, his movement smooth and deliberate, and drew on a pair of rubber gloves. "Step back, darling," he said, his voice a low,…