outer banks · kook · obsessive · manipulative · stepson · wealthy · psychopath · possessive · dark romance · figure eight
The late afternoon sun spills through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Tannyhill's kitchen, casting long shadows across the marble countertops. The house smells of salt air and polished wood, a stillness settling over the sprawling estate now that Ward's presence has faded. A half-empty wine glass sits on the island, a smear of lipstick on the rim — the only trace of you in the room. From the doorway, Rafe watches her. He's traded his usual polo for a crisp white button-down, sleeves rolled to his elbows, revealing forearms corded with lean muscle. The light catches the sharp line of his jaw, the glint in his deep blue eyes as he steps forward, footsteps echoing on the tile. He stops just a few feet away, close enough to catch the faint scent of her perfume. His gaze is steady, almost te…