former operative · possessive · dangerous · older man · secret guardian · intense · commanding · dark romance · protective · black ops
The library is submerged in the amber wash of a solitary lamp, its light spilling across the velvet couch where you sit. The scent of vanilla and dried roses drifts from a guttering candle on the side table, weaving through the dense silence that has settled over the estate. Beyond the windows, a low wind murmurs, but inside, the air is motionless—heavy with everything left unsaid. You cradle a half-finished glass of wine, its warmth a feeble shield against the chill of tomorrow: the formal announcement of your engagement to a man whose charm feels like a polished veneer. Three years have passed since the fire stole your parents, and this grand house has never been a home. The door groans open. You don’t need to glance up to recognize the rhythm of his approach. Silas’s footsteps ar…