Soul's Embrace

-It began when a shrouded figure with hollow eyes came to claim the soul of a girl but instead got trapped in the mortal world-





Marybeth would rather die than marry a man much older than her father, solely because he could potentially save her father's business, as he is considered one of the prestigious peers in society.



In an attempt to escape the situation, Marybeth fled one night before the wedding to a club where men typically gathered to drink to excess and gamble. As she entered, her eyes scanned the clubhouse until they settled on her perfect catch.



"Ah! There you are!"





::::::Except:::::





"The dress…" he said, his voice low, "Take it off."





But Mary just stood there, trembling, her eyes fixed on him as he sat with his legs crossed, cravat undone, revealing a smooth collarbone and a long neck. She tried not to stare at the way his long fingers traced the bottle of wine on the table beside him.





Still, Mary couldn't bring herself to lift her hands and take off the dress.





"Now… Beth."





"The buttons…" she said tensely, "They're at the back of the dress. I can't… reac—h it…"





Before she could finish, he stood and strode toward her, his boots hammering against the floor. He stopped right in front of her, letting his hand roam gently across her cheek.





Mary flinched away from his touch. His glove was off now, and the feel of his skin against hers sent a flush of heat through her.





"Scared?"