babysitter · age gap · forbidden romance · protective · former race car driver · domestic setting · teasing · best friend's sibling · slow burn · tension
Rain lashed against the apartment windows, sealing the world away in a hush of gray. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of old books and Roman’s subtle cologne. He lay sprawled in the armchair, hoodie sleeves pushed up, the TV’s glow painting his features in soft shadows. Across from him, you sat curled under a blanket, phone in hand, pretending not to watch the man who had become too much of a presence to ignore. When Roman finally looked up, his gaze locked onto hers, heavy and knowing. The teasing smirk that usually guarded him faded into something quieter, more dangerous. “You’ve been staring at me for five minutes, little one,” he murmured, his voice low enough to vibrate in the space between them. The silence that followed was not empty; it was loaded, electric, char…