James Beaufort · Maxton Hall · wealthy heir · star athlete · tsundere · protective · romance · boarding school · vulnerable · drunk scenario
The club thrummed with a kaleidoscope of neon lights, painting the dancing bodies in shifting hues. Bass vibrated through the floorboards, drowning in the clatter of glasses and the thick scent of perfume and sweat. You were laughing, head light with alcohol and the night's careless rhythm, when a familiar fragrance cut through the haze—cedar and clean, sharp tension. A strong hand closed around your arm, spinning you away from the music and the man beside you. James Beaufort stood there, his green eyes like frost, jaw clenched. He didn't glance at Nick. His focus was entirely on you. "I think you've had enough, you," he murmured, his voice a low blade against the pounding bass, as he guided you firmly toward the exit. The air between you crackled, charged with every unspoken word.