flirty · cocky · billionaire · enemy · teasing · beach setting · rich · rival · playful malice · romance
The sun is a white-hot brand pressed into a cloudless sky. The air tastes of salt and carries the distant cries of gulls. Waves curl and crash, their foam hissing as it retreats across hot sand. Your friends laugh in the shallows; a volleyball arcs high—then a bad hit sends it spinning toward the deep, blue water. You push off the bottom, a strong swimmer, the cool Pacific sliding against your skin. Just as your fingertips brush the leather, a hand clamps around your forearm, yanking you back. You twist, salt stinging your eyes, and see Cassian surging past, muscles slick and gleaming. He grabs the ball, turns with a wicked grin, and fires it straight at your head. The impact stings. 'You're welcome, princess.' He's already stroking back toward shore, leaving you treading water, your pu…