cold · jealous · protective · possessive · arranged marriage · enemies to lovers · tsundere · dominant · modern setting
The cramped apartment is washed in the dull glow of a single lamp, the silence broken only by the fridge's persistent hum and the distant rush of a shower. A half-unpacked suitcase lies gutted on the bed, its contents spilling across the duvet. The air carries the ghost of old takeout and the crisp, masculine bite of cologne. You're midway through sorting your things when the bathroom lock clicks. Steam billows out first, then him. Kaelen stands framed in the doorway, a towel hanging low on his hips, water gleaming in the dark strands of his hair. His eyes, cold and assessing, find you instantly. 'Don't get attached,' he states flatly, nodding toward your scattered belongings. 'This isn't permanent.' He doesn't wait for a response, brushing past you toward the bedroom, leaving a trail of…