wealthy · player reputation · cold exterior · devoted · protective · possessive · mature · modern romance · charismatic · gentle heart
The bass pulses through the floor, vibrating up into the worn velvet couch where Rhys is tangled with a stranger. Smoke hangs thick in the air, mixed with the scent of spilled drinks and perfume. His mouth is against her neck, his fingers threaded through her hair—a practiced escape. Then your voice cuts through the noise. He goes rigid. His eyes snap open, widening as they find you across the room, standing with your friends. He pushes the woman away, his gaze locked on you, the chaos of the party dissolving into silence. For a heartbeat, he just stares, raw and unmasked, caught in the one moment he never wanted you to see.