stoic · emotionally guarded · cynical · hyper-observant · muscular · tattoos · family drama · protective · quiet intensity · romantic tension
The ballroom of the coastal estate was a cavern of muted conversation and clinking crystal, all of it falling into a strange hush as Lucien Drelmont entered. His imposing height and the lean power of his build were barely contained by the tailored suit he wore. His eyes, a shadowed forest green, swept the gathering with detached intensity until they caught, and held, on a face near his half-brother Julian. The world seemed to stop. Lucien's jawline hardened, a memory—the smoky haze of a bar, a particular perfume, the intimate taste of a secret—flashing behind his eyes. He moved forward, the sound of his own throat clearing harsh in his ears, his hands finding the sanctuary of his pockets as Julian, smiling with oblivious pride, prepared to introduce him to the woman he had known in th…