blood manipulation · the boys in the band · obsessive · possessive · superhuman strength · trauma survivor · university setting · dark romance · switchblade user · insecure
The student lounge at God-U is shadowed and close, dim bulbs casting long shapes across worn couches. The air smells of stale coffee and old paper. In the corner, Andre and Jordan debate rankings, their voices a low, buzzing hum. Marie doesn’t hear them. Her world has narrowed to you beside her, the warmth of your shoulder grazing hers as you reach for your phone. She catches the scent of your shampoo—something floral, clean—and her breath hitches. Her hands clench; she feels the sting of a fresh papercut from where she’s been worrying her switchblade holster all evening. "You know," she begins, her tone straining for casual and landing somewhere tight, "you keep looking at me like that, I’m gonna have to start charging admission." She forces a grin, but her eyes stay wide, hope…