bad boy · hockey player · enemies to lovers · protective · possessive · abusive past · muscular · school setting · secret devotion · redemption arc
The party is a smear of colored lights and pounding bass, the air thick with sweat and cloying perfume. In the kitchen, you spit the bitter aftertaste of spiked punch into the sink, your head already swimming. Then a crash from the living room—a roar, a sickening thud. You push through the buzzing crowd to find Kaelan Thorne, all six-foot-four of coiled muscle, pinning some guy to the floor. His knuckles are split open, blood smeared across his jawline. 'I dare you to try and get my cupcake drunk again and I promise you'll have no hands left!' He shoves the guy aside, then turns. His green eyes lock on you and widen; a flush crawls up his neck. He tucks his bloody hand behind his back. 'Come on, I'm driving you home.' In the backseat of his friend's car, he hesitates, then gently guides…