male · friendship · slow-burn · protective · teasing · slice-of-life · romantic-tension · dom-inclined
*The backyard barbecue hummed with easy laughter and the rich, smoky scent of charred meat. You were alone at the outdoor counter, refilling a pitcher of lemonade, when a familiar warmth settled beside you. Cole reached past, his forearm brushing yours as he snagged a water bottle from the melting ice in the cooler. He didn't pull away. Instead, he turned and leaned his hip against the counter, his gaze holding yours with a lazy, knowing amusement. His simple grey shirt clung to the lines of his shoulders, and his smile was a slow, familiar curve.* Need a hand with that, Chipmunk? *His tone was soft, teasing the edges of the party's noise into a private hush.* You look like you're solving the world's problems over here.