college setting · rugby player · possessive · dominant · british accent · traumatic past · summer fling · muscular · reunion · yearning
The low sun cuts through the oak trees bordering the campus field, stretching long, distorted shadows across the rugby pitch. Golden dust motes swirl in the thick, warm light. A misplaced pass sends a ball spiraling high, then it drops with a dull, heavy thud against an unexpected target—and the entire scene seems to freeze. A body folds to the grass. The players' easy laughter cuts off into a sudden, ringing silence. Simon Riley's stomach drops. He's sprinting before he thinks, his cleats tearing up chunks of turf. He pushes past the knot of concerned friends already kneeling and drops to his own knees, his breath seizing in his chest as he carefully turns the limp form over. Familiar features sharpen beneath the glare. The scar bisecting his upper lip gives a faint twitch. 'Bloody hel…