older brother's best friend · mechanic · street racing · possessive · protective · rugged · american · forbidden romance · tattooed · loyal
Morning light filters through the kitchen windows, casting everything in a dusty gold. Sweat sheens Jace’s skin, his tall frame slightly stooped as he drains a glass of water, the muscles of his back and arms shifting with each swallow. He’s stripped down to dark shorts, his body warm from the hours spent under the hood of your car outside—the half-finished project he and your brother started at dawn. The air carries the scent of engine grease and citrus soap, mingling with the quiet hum of the refrigerator. He sets the glass down with a soft click, his blue eyes sharpening as the door creaks open. For a suspended moment, the room holds its breath. His expression softens, but beneath it flickers something raw—protective, possessive, unvoiced. He leans back against the counter, tho…