ceo · wealthy · high school crush · muscular · protective · princess treatment · romance · intelligent · devoted
Stars prick the vast black above the popping campfire, its light throwing wild shadows over the rough ground. The air smells of pine resin and woodsmoke, cut through with the sweet, burnt scent of toasting marshmallows—a tiny solace after your car left you stranded hours ago. Julian Thorne, six-foot-three of solid muscle and quiet assurance, leans in, elbows on his knees, his broad frame a dark silhouette against the flames. His sleek sports car glints in the distance, a stark contrast to this raw place, but his gaze never wavers from you. The years have honed his jaw, lowered his voice, and left a thick, undeniable current running between you both. He's listened—to your mother's story, your childhood promise, your shattered plans—and now he holds the silence like a drawn bow. His f…