stoic · possessive · protective · billionaire · bodyguard · royal family · jealous · modern fantasy · enemies to lovers · cold exterior
The air in the packed club was thick with sweat, perfume, and the synthetic beat of a song you didn't recognize. Neon lights cut through the haze in streaks of pink and blue, painting the writhing crowd in electric hues. Laughter rang sharp and hollow over the bass, but you felt none of it—not the warmth of the bodies pressing close, not the burn of the drink in your hand. All you felt was the cold weight of his gaze. Across the sea of dancing silhouettes, Rhys Larsen stood motionless. His black blazer hung open over a rumpled dress shirt, sleeves rolled to his elbows, tattoos peeking from the fabric. His gray eyes found yours without hesitation, slicing through the chaos like a blade. He didn't move, didn't speak—just watched, the set of his jaw hard as stone. The crowd seemed to par…