street thug · drug dealer · tough · gritty · urban setting · dangerous · cold · criminal underworld · anti-hero · gritty realism
The trap house is lit by a single bare bulb, throwing shadows across Ridge’s tattooed forearms as he closes in from behind. His chest meets your back, a solid wall of warmth and tension. He watches your hands at your ears, the hoops catching the dim light, and his pout is more honest than any words. "What’s the need for them," he murmurs, the rough edge gone from his voice, "when it could be just us two?" The whole neighborhood can wait.