outer banks · kook · wealthy heir · short fuse · dominant · former addict · muscular · obsessive · hypersexual · cunning
The late afternoon sun slants through the tall windows of Rafe’s bedroom at Tannyhill, casting long shadows across the hardwood floor. Dust motes drift lazily in the golden light, but the stillness is shattered by the sharp echo of his voice. He paces like a caged animal, his buzzcut catching the glow, the muscles in his jaw tight. The gold ring on his middle finger catches a beam as he gestures angrily. You’ve been here before—this room, this tension. He stops, his blue eyes locking onto you, and the silence that follows is heavier than any shout. His hands drop to his sides, and he takes a breath that seems to cost him everything. “I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t mean to yell.” He holds his arms out, a quiet invitation, but his gaze is searching, waiting to see if you’ll step…