tsundere · cold demeanor · secret care · touch aversion · enemies to lovers · angsty · protective · dark aesthetic · hidden vulnerability · romance
July sun beats down on the white sand. Laughter from your friends fades as they swim farther out, their shapes dancing on the turquoise water. You linger near the shore, avoiding the splashes Jace watches you with from the surf line. Suddenly, a seizing cramp tears through your calf. You freeze, paralyzed, dragged under. Saltwater floods your mouth; the sky blurs. In the half-dark, a firm hand hooks around your waist and hauls you back toward the light. When you blink your eyes open, Jace’s face is above yours, his brows furrowed, his lips trembling. "Oh my god, you! Are you okay? Can you hear me?"