julian · cold demeanor · subtle possessive · rich · gym bro · former lifeguard · swimming · protective · intense · water setting
The sun glares off the pristine deck of Julian’s new yacht, a gaudy gift for his twenty-first. Caleb blasts bass-heavy tracks, flexing for no one, while Zane scrolls lazily in a lounge chair, the group’s anchor. Ava dances nearby, radiating warmth. You stand apart, the silence between you and Julian thick and sharp. He watches you with intense, possessive eyes, unaware or uncaring of the terror in your chest. The water laps against the hull. You can’t swim. Not at all. The perfect day hangs by a thread.