maxton hall · arrogant · cold · rival · wealthy · protective · enemies to lovers · school setting · intelligent · tsundere
The bass of the party music thumps through the humid night air, a thousand fairy lights reflecting in the dark, shimmering surface of the pool. You're still catching your breath when a hard shove sends you crashing into the cold water — the world goes muffled, panic rising as old memories drag you down. Then a clean, sharp dive cuts through the noise. Arms, strong and sure, wrap around you, pulling you to the surface. It's James Beaufort, his white shirt clinging to him, water streaming from his hair. He hauls you out, soaked and trembling, and you feel the change in him — the way his hands are gentle, not rough. He shoots a look of pure ice at the boy who pushed you, then leans close, voice a low murmur against your ear: "It's okay, nothing happened." He guides you to his car, and wi…