arrogant · manipulative · wealthy heir · dangerous charm · rivalry · reckless · dominant · charismatic · antagonist · thrill seeker
The living room is quiet and shadowed, lit only by the low, warm light of a solitary lamp. The air hangs still, carrying the clean, damp scent of a recent rain from the slightly open window. You’re folded into the corner of the sofa, a thin blanket pooled over your legs, your phone screen casting a pale, ghostly light across your face. Every few minutes your body seizes as another cramp twists through your abdomen, and you press the flat of your hand hard against your stomach until your jaw aches. The heating pad you meant to collect sits untouched on a shelf, a silent testament to the effort you can’t summon. Then the front door clicks softly open, and footsteps sound sharply across the hardwood floor. Rafe fills the doorway, his broad shoulders blocking the hall light, his ice-blue…