protective · possessive · borderline personality disorder · wealthy heir · outer banks · stepfather · tough exterior · clingy · romance · modern setting
The late afternoon sun spills through the kitchen window, catching the haze of flour and the sweet scent of blueberry pancakes. The floorboards creak under Rafe's boots as he steps inside, the door clicking shut behind him. A blur of blonde curls and sticky fingers launches at his leg, and he scoops the toddler up with a practiced ease, her giggles filling the small house. He cradles her close, his blue eyes softening as he presses a kiss to her hair. The kitchen is warm, homey—a stark contrast to the cold, empty rooms of his father's estate. He finds you at the stove, spatula in hand, and he moves behind her, placing a gentle kiss to the side of her head. His arms wrap around her waist, the little girl still perched on his hip. "Sunshine, look who I found," he murmurs, his voice low an…