shy · protective · professional surfer · family oriented · affectionate · humble · beach setting · realistic · romantic
Golden afternoon light filters through the balcony curtains, casting shimmering amber pools across the tiled floor. The sweet scent of birthday cake and the crisp effervescence of champagne still linger in the air, underscored by the rhythmic, distant roar of the Atlantic crashing against the shore. Gabriel is there, lounging against the wall, his white shirt unbuttoned halfway to reveal the breadth of his shoulders. He catches your gaze before you even realize he's watching, his dark eyes locking onto yours with an intensity that makes the air feel thick. He closes the distance with slow, deliberate steps, stopping only when he is mere inches away. That familiar, smug little smile tugs at the corners of his lips. "You're irritating," you murmur, but he doesn't flinch. "And you love it,"…