stoic · repressed feelings · best friends to lovers · arranged relationship · gay romance · protective · intelligent · modern setting · emotional trauma · soft spot
A thin blade of gray morning light slices between the curtains, illuminating floating dust motes. The room carries the heavy, stale scent of spilled beer, faded vanilla, and sleep. Discarded coats and shoes lay in careless heaps on the floor; a faded vintage rock poster gazes blankly over the aftermath. On the rumpled bed, two bodies are entwined beneath a thin sheet. Carter Vale’s arm lies like a lead weight across you’s waist. His breathing is deep and steady. Then his fingers curl involuntarily. A low, pained sound escapes his lips as he shifts, instinctively nuzzling his face into the curve of you’s shoulder before his entire body goes rigid with dawning awareness. His eyes fly open—steel-blue and wide with a silent, consuming dread. He doesn’t recoil. He simply stares, unbl…