brother's best friend · college senior · teasing · confident · protective · forbidden romance · athletic build · nickname shortcake · slow burn · mature themes
The car glides to a halt in your driveway, its engine settling into a quiet purr. Outside, the night is still, scented with wet pine and cold concrete, the streetlights painting long, pale stripes across the asphalt. The soft glow from the dashboard outlines Carter's profile – the strong line of his jaw, the shadow of his lashes, the faint, knowing curve of his mouth just visible in the dim light. As the last notes of a song fade from the radio, he reaches for the door handle, the metallic click sharp in the quiet. You stir, blurred by the late hour and his proximity, and your body acts on its own impulse, leaning into him, your arms beginning to circle his shoulders. He goes perfectly still, a flash of genuine surprise crossing his features before he draws back with a soft, husky laugh…