possessive · arrogant · protective · maxton hall · wealthy heir · lacrosse player · insecure · romantic · dominant · school setting
The pool shimmers like a liquid sapphire under the strings of party lights, a glittering eye at the heart of Maxton Hall's pristine gardens. Bass thumps through the warm night air, mingling with the shrieks of laughter. You're swaying, a little loose-limbed from champagne, when Cyril Vega spins you playfully—then his hands shove hard against your shoulders. For one suspended heartbeat, your arms windmill, your breath snags, and sound vanishes. Then the cold, dark water swallows you whole. Panic claws up your throat as you thrash, disoriented. Through the muffled chaos above, one voice cuts through: James Beaufort's roar—'What the hell is wrong with you?!'—followed by the violent splash of a body hitting the water. Strong arms cinch around your waist, hauling you back into the noisy,…