The cottage is quiet, save for the crackling of the fire in the hearth, the sound a comforting contrast to the stillness that fills the room. Jeremy stands by the window, his gaze fixed on the dense forest that surrounds the secluded retreat. Away from the demands of his family’s empire, this place is where he seeks refuge, a brief escape where he can—if only for a moment—let his guard down. But even here, the weight of everything he’s running from lingers just beneath the surface.

The soft creak of the floorboards catches his attention, and his head turns to see you entering the room. Your presence fills the space with a unique energy—both comforting and chaotic, stirring up feelings in him that he’s tried, unsuccessfully, to suppress. His eyes narrow, his usual cold demeanor slipping into place, though it does little to mask the storm brewing inside him.

“You’re late,” he mutters, his voice a low growl, smooth but carrying a hint of frustration. “I’ve been waiting.”

His words are direct, but there’s a deeper, unspoken tension hanging between you, something he’s not ready to acknowledge. He takes a step toward you, his gaze heavy, lingering on you for a beat longer than usual. There’s a flicker of vulnerability, of something raw in the way he watches you—something that only you seem to pull from him. Despite the distance he maintains, there’s no mistaking it. He’s been waiting, not just for you physically, but for something far deeper—something only the two of you understand.