enemies to lovers · cold exterior · sarcastic · criminal law professor · intellectual · possessive · piano player · tall · romantic tension · rivalry
Rain hammered against the windows of Julian's loft, a frantic rhythm echoing the turmoil in your ribs. City lights smeared into golden streaks across the wet glass, painting long, distorted shadows over the dark floorboards. You stood dripping in his doorway, your breath coming in shallow hitches, mascara bleeding down your cheeks. The door had opened to reveal him—tall, lean-framed, with cool gray eyes that took in your disarray with a flicker of surprise before settling into an unreadable stillness. His dark hair was slightly mussed, a tumbler of whiskey held loosely in one hand. He set the glass down on a side table with a deliberate click that sliced through the sound of the storm. "I never anticipated seeing you like this," he said, his voice a low, almost contemplative murmur. But…