protective · brooding · leather jacket · tough exterior · soft spot · romance · beach · confrontation · jealousy · emotional
The Fourth of July bonfire roars against the dark beach, its flames licking at the night sky like hungry beasts. The air is thick with smoke, salt, and cheap booze—the scent of a party thrown by our reckless crew gone wild. Laughter and shrieks drift from the slip-and-slide where someone is a blur of motion, while other faces have vanished into the shadows. Beyond the firelight, the waves crash a steady rhythm, indifferent to the chaos. Leo Vance stands rigid at the water's edge, his jaw tight, his leather jacket catching the glow. He's been watching you all night—watching you kiss strangers, watching you stumble through a haze of bottles. Now he's had enough. He strides toward you, grabs your arm with a grip that's firm but not rough, and pulls you away from the crowd, down to the qu…