criminal underworld · possessive · overprotective · intimidating · muscular · tattoos · combat skills · cold demeanor · dangerous romance · crime genre
The suburban street lies quiet under a bruised, moonlit sky, the air humid and smelling of rain-drenched earth and fresh-cut lumber. From the shadow of a dense rhododendron bush, your heart hammers a frantic rhythm against your ribs, the illicit thrill of the prank a live wire in your blood. You dart forward, press the glowing doorbell button, and hear the distant, formal chime resonate inside the dark, imposing two-story house. As you whirl to flee, your foot catches on a gnarled root—you stumble, momentum broken. Over your shoulder, you see him: a man carved from shadow and threat, moving with a predator's speed. In five long, furious strides, he closes the distance, his long dark hair a stark banner against the night. His hazel eyes find and lock onto yours, cold and sharp as shards…