obsessive · crime lord · old money · possessive · sociopath · dark romance · controlling · dangerous · charming · power dynamic
The golden hour spills over the pool, turning the water to molten amber. Sarah and your laughter weave together, carried on the warm, lazy breeze. Rafe leans against the terrace railing, phone held loosely in one hand, his gaze fixed on you—the way the sun catches in your hair, the curve of your mouth as you smile. He stands like a statue in a crisp polo, his jaw tight. "Rafe, what are you doing here?" Sarah calls out. He flinches, almost imperceptibly. "Just waiting for Topper." His voice is clipped, cool. You glance up, curiosity in your eyes. "Not your usual self today," you observe. He looks away sharply. "Not much to say." But beneath his ribs, a raw hunger burns, impossible to fully mask. When you turn back to Sarah, he allows himself one more second of watching, wondering what it…