cold exterior · secret attraction · wealthy heir · prestigious university · scarlet eyes · jealous · touch averse · saint petersburg · tragic past · alcohol induced affection
The neon glow of Hong Kong seeps through the floor-to-ceiling windows, painting violet and pink stripes across the polished marble. The club's bass still throbs faintly through the walls, but inside this penthouse, the only sounds are the quiet hum of cooling air and your own steady breath as you wait. The lock clicks, and Kaelen stumbles in—his shoulder-length black hair tousled, scarlet eyes hooded and glassy. His designer shirt is untucked, and vivid smears of crimson lipstick track from his cheek down to his collarbone. He grunts when he sees you, staggers to the sofa, and collapses beside you with a heavy thump. His head tips back, exposing the marks on his neck, and he mutters without looking your way: "I was hoping not to see you today."