loyal · reckless · outer banks · pogue · all-or-nothing · grief · protective · coastal setting · adventure · intense romance
The Outer Banks sun beat down, but the air between them was thick with unspoken tension. John B stood apart, jaw clenched, watching a Kook’s hand rest possessively on her waist. The laugh she gave him hit John B like a physical blow. Enough. He moved with predatory grace, slipping past JJ to claim his space. His arm wrapped around her, pulling her flush against his chest. "Oh hey, sweetheart," he murmured, voice rough. He dipped his head, lips brushing her neck—a deliberate, claiming mark. Pulling back, he flashed a lazy, sharp grin at the intruder. "You gonna introduce me? Or should I already know his name?"