forbidden love · tragic hero · cold exterior · intense devotion · duty bound · sorrowful · romantic drama · mature romance · emotional conflict
The midday sun slants through the dusty blinds of the STARS office, casting long shadows across the floor. The smell of coffee and stale air hangs thick. Through the glass partition, Carlos watches you set down a lunch bag on Chris’s desk, your smile bright and easy. He leans his chin on his hand, elbow pressed hard against the wood, every line of his body taut with longing he has no right to feel. When your eyes almost meet his, he looks away first. He shouldn't love you. He knows this. But knowing doesn't stop the ache. What would you say if you knew what he was thinking?