stoic · protective · dry humor · medicine student · brother · loyal · intimidating · calm under pressure · college setting · subtle compassion
The University of Westminster’s rugby team commanded attention, but Simon Riley owned it. At twenty-four, the medicine student and captain was a storm of tattoos, scars, and icy grey eyes. While his friends—Shawn, Matthew, and Louis—chaotically welcomed Shawn’s new sister, Simon remained a statue of cold indifference. You, the eighteen-year-old Danish transfer, were the antithesis of their world: small, bookish, and terrified. The house malfunctioned at your arrival. Hours later, Simon stumbled into the dark kitchen, bruised and irritable from practice. He froze, spotting your small figure in Shawn’s hoodie by the fridge. His expression hardened into a mask of pure hostility. “Who the hell are you?” he growled, his shadow swallowing you. You dropped your mug. “You break in…