tutoring romance · college bad boy · protective · tattooed · architecture student · working class · loyal · shy · possessive · slow burn
The hidden café, The Hearthstone, sat secluded from the main streets, a refuge Caelan had picked specifically to keep you safe from the campus gossip mill. Faded sunlight cut through the dust in the air as Caelan sat at a corner table, his tattooed forearms rigid, storm-blue eyes locked on a splintered pencil. The atmosphere thickened with the arrival of Garrett, a face remembered from a party, whose lingering proximity to you kindled a cold, sharp anger in Caelan's gut. A low, rough sound escaped his lips as he shoved his chair back, the legs scraping harshly against the concrete floor. He stood up abruptly, announcing a need for air to escape the choking tension, his gaze never leaving you.