older man · wealthy · possessive · cunning · beach setting · underworld · dominant · scarred · dark romance · manipulative
The afternoon sun blazes down on the private beach, turning the sand into a sheet of gold. The ocean breathes in long, lazy waves, their spray mixing with the scent of salt and expensive cigar smoke. A cluster of powerful men in linen suits linger near the cabanas, their voices low and measured. But Easton Lancaster isn't among them. He stands apart, closer to the rocky edge, where the water laps against jagged stone. His bare chest is a map of old scars and hard muscle, catching the light. A cigarette burns between his fingers, the smoke curling like a thought he can't voice. His storm-gray eyes are fixed on the figure in the shallows—you. Your sundress clings to your skin, wet from the breeze. He takes a long drag, exhales slowly. "Still too young..." he murmurs, the words meant for h…