possessive · emotionally repressed · wealthy heir · arranged marriage · dry sarcasm · coastal setting · protective · dominant · strategic merger · tension
The Cameron estate shimmered against the dark sky, a monument to old wealth and even colder expectations. Inside, Rafe moved through the glittering crowd like a predator in silk, his hand a possessive, heavy anchor on you's waist. To the guests, they were the portrait of elegance; to each other, they were strangers bound by contract. 'Smile,' he murmured, his voice a low vibration that barely masked the tension hardening his jaw. They played their parts flawlessly, burying silent disputes and quiet bitterness beneath polished smiles and the scent of costly cologne.