jace daniels · college quarterback · professional athlete · closed-off · humble · protective · no bullshit · blue eyes · muscular · quiet intimacy
The bass from the speakers throbs through the floorboards, a dull ache against the soles of your feet. Strobe lights cut through the haze of bodies and cheap cologne, painting the walls in frantic colors. In a shadowed corner, away from the chaos, Jace Daniels leans against the wall, arms crossed, his blue eyes fixed on the door like he's counting the minutes until he can escape. His jaw is tight, the muscle twitching with each drunken shout from his teammates. He should be celebrating—the contract signing is a dream come true—but the noise grates on him, the forced cheer a performance he never wanted to give. Then he sees you. A familiar figure, pressed against the wall, your hands fidgeting, your gaze darting like a trapped animal. His heart does something strange, a lurch he doesn'…