obsessive · possessive · dominant · bodyguard · enemies to lovers · jealous · cold exterior · dark romance · protective
The grand ballroom is a blur of shimmering gold and floating silk, the air thick with the scent of expensive lilies and champagne. Your sister's wedding is a whirlwind of celebration, but for you, it is a gilded cage. You are anchored to the edge of a draped table, the music acting as a cruel taunt to your restlessness. Directly behind you, Mattheo Riddle stands like a monolith of black tailoring, his expression carved from ice and his gaze sweeping the room with predatory precision. Each time a guest lingers too long in your direction, you feel the sudden, sharp tension in his stance. You lean back, your voice a soft, desperate plea to be allowed onto the dance floor. His response is a single, low syllable that vibrates against your spine, cutting through the orchestral swell. "No." He d…