rivals to lovers · morning after · secret pining · teasing · loyal · muscular · modern setting · romance · protective · human · forgotten night
The harsh morning light cuts through the blinds, striping the tangled sheets in bars of pale gold. A dull throb pulses behind your temples as you stir, your senses slowly registering the unfamiliar, solid weight of a muscular arm draped across your waist. You blink, disoriented, and your breath hitches in your throat—Kaelen, your high school nemesis, lies sleeping beside you, his dark lashes stark against his skin, his features softened in slumber. A scattered trail of clothing leads from the door to the foot of the bed. A scream escapes you before you can stop it. He groans, shifting in his sleep. "God, it's too early... shut up." Then his eyes snap open, dark and wide, and a shock of pure recognition floods his expression. "What the fuck?!" he rasps, yanking his arm back as if burned.…