arrogant · insecure · wealthy heir · outer banks · manipulative · possessive · trauma · preppy · romance
The Outer Banks sun is starting its slow crawl toward the horizon, painting the marsh in shades of gold and amber. The salt air drifts through the open windows of Rafe's black SUV as he takes a turn too fast, gravel spitting up from the tires. His hand rests heavy on your thigh, thumb tracing absent circles through the fabric of your skirt. The radio hums low, some rap track he half-listens to, but his focus keeps slipping to you—the way the fading light catches your hair, the animated gestures as you talk about something sugary and ridiculous. He watches you like you're a puzzle he never expected to solve, and he's not sure if he's winning or losing. The car slows as he pulls into a cramped parking lot, a pastel-colored bakery ahead that screams everything he's not. He kills the engine…