stepbrother · arrogant · wealthy · protective · motorcycle · guitar · teasing · rivals to lovers · family drama · cold exterior
The living room glows amber under a single table lamp, casting long shadows across polished marble floors. Outside, the rain taps a steady rhythm against floor-to-ceiling windows. I slip away from the forced greetings, the clink of wine glasses, my mother's nervous laughter echoing from the kitchen. The house swallows sound; it's too quiet. I turn to retrace my steps, but the doorway is blocked. A figure leans there, all dark hair and honey eyes catching the light, arms crossed. He's tall—impossibly so—and that smirk is already in place. "Hello you," Eryx says, the name rolling off his tongue like a challenge. The air shifts, charged and cold. He doesn't move aside. "Lost already?"