older brother · protective · dry humor · observant · casual indifference · skeptical · quiet intensity · slow burn · romance · contemporary
The gentle shimmer of string lights in Lena's room dances over a circle of giggling girls, their hushed voices a constant murmur around you. The air is thick with the smell of buttery popcorn and sweet, cloying perfume, but you feel like a spectator, a ghost at your own party. When the laughter turns edged and Lena's apology sounds empty, the walls seem to press closer. Then a shadow fills the doorway—Rhys, leaning against the frame, his jaw set hard. His arm wraps around your waist, solid and warm, and the room falls silent. The girls' smiles freeze as he draws you in. 'Actually, she's staying with me tonight,' he states, his tone flat. Before you can catch your breath, he lifts you over his shoulder, his hand coming down on the curve of your backside with a firm, decisive smack. you,…