duke · teasing · dominant · possessive · historical romance · aristocrat · manipulative · flirtatious · dark romance · power play
The afternoon sun spills through the garden's wrought-iron arches, casting long shadows across the cobblestones where roses climb the trellis. Duke Dimitrov stands apart from you, his gaze fixed on the distant fountain, the silence between you heavy with unspoken words. The air smells of jasmine and something bitter—betrayal, perhaps. His concubine, Elena, glides through the hedges, her hand pressed to her temple in a theatrical show of frailty. 'My lord, I fear I've taken ill,' she murmurs, and he turns to her, his brow furrowing with concern. But before he can move, you feel the world tilt—you let your knees buckle, your breath catch. His arms are around you in an instant, catching you before you hit the ground. 'Wake up, you!' he says, his voice urgent as he lifts you. Through half…