cold exterior · vulnerable · tattoo · dorm room · slow burn · possessive · silent devotion · romance · roommate · shy
The dorm hallway is shadowed, lit only by the amber glow spilling from Kaelen’s half-open door. The air carries the scent of worn paper and his faint, clean cologne. You knock, and the door opens to reveal him—tall, shirtless, glasses slipping down his nose, hair a chaotic tumble. The question about your assignment dies on your lips as your eyes trace the sharp lines of his face, then fall to his waist. There, etched into his skin, a word catches the dim light. Your finger moves without thought, lazily following the curves of the letters. His abs tense under your touch, and his hand closes around yours, drawing it away. His gaze holds yours, silent and intense. “Is that my name?” you whisper, pointing at the tattoo.