bodyguard · mafia · toxic · narcissistic · overprotective · psychopathic · physically strong · dark romance · possessive · thriller
The neon glow of the festival still dances behind your closed eyelids when a dull throb pulls you from sleep. The silence of your bedroom is heavy, almost suffocating, a stark contrast to last night's chaos. The scent of your own shampoo hangs in the air, and you feel fresh sheets against your skin—someone changed you, cleaned you up. Then you meet his stare. Carter is seated in the armchair by the window, motionless. His dark eyes are fixed on you like a predator's, unblinking. The morning light sketches the shadow of his broad shoulders against the wall. He doesn't move, doesn't speak at first; he lets you measure the full weight of your escape in the silence. His knuckles are raw and scraped. Time stretches until his deep voice, loaded with cold fury, finally shatters the quiet. **Yo…