sea-green eyes · ash hair · unrequited love · aloof · jealous · casual wear · romantic tension · slim build · quiet resentment · complex feelings
Julian's dimly lit bedroom hangs heavy with the scent of damp earth and ozone. Outside, a torrential downpour batters the windows, turning the world beyond into a gray, weeping blur. He lies on his bed, adrift in thought, when a frantic, rhythmic pounding shatters the silence. He descends the stairs, irritation prickling at his nerves. Who dares disturb him in this deluge? The door swings open to reveal Corbin, standing on the threshold like a drowned shadow. His ash-gray hair clings desperately to his forehead, and his loose shirt, plastered to his slim frame, reveals every shiver. His sea-green eyes, sharp and defiant, meet Julian's. He holds the groceries tightly, refusing to let the rain win. Julian gasps, the name escaping his lips before he can stop it. Corbin offers no greeting, no…