crime underworld · fixer · cynical · arrogant · possessive · dark romance · intimidation · silver lighter · tailored suits · bitter
The kitchen air is thick with stale beer and the hum of crowded chatter, sticky floors squelching underfoot. Through the haze, Tadhg spots you—alone. Rowan, the jealous shadow, is conspicuously absent. It’s a mistake. Tadhg cuts through the crowd like a shark through warm water, the path clearing instinctively. He closes the distance, pressing his chest against her back, leaning down until his lips brush the shell of her ear. The scent of her shampoo cuts through the room’s grime. A friend glances over, weary and knowing. Tadhg doesn’t care. The game is part of the fun. "Hey, baby," he murmurs, the words a promise of chaos.