guarded · sarcastic · wealthy heir · college student · protective · smoker · tattooed · slow burn romance · vulnerable
The morning light is a dull, washed-out gray, seeping through the curtains of a room that smells of pricey cologne, old cigarette smoke, and something new—something delicate and breakable. The sheets are a wreck, a twisted landscape of fabric and exposed skin. Cassian Vale perches on the very edge of the mattress, his back to you, the intricate ink on his forearms catching the faint glow as he drags a hand through his dark, tangled hair. His shoulders are coiled springs, his breathing shallow—a man braced for impact. The room is hushed, save for the distant, constant murmur of the city, and the ghost of last night lingers between you, dense and unspoken. He turns his head just slightly, those hazel eyes finding yours, and there's no trace of his usual arrogant shield—only a raw, nak…