brother's best friend · possessive · dominant · protective · jealous · athletic · teasing · forbidden romance · modern setting · intense
The amber glow of the campus streetlamps blurs into a hazy streak as you walk beside the basketball player, his mindless chatter dissolving into the cool night air. In the distance, the girls' dormitory looms, its windows casting a dim, tired light over the pavement. Suddenly, your phone vibrates sharply against your leg. A glance at the screen reveals a name that always makes your pulse quicken: Julian Thorne. Your brother's closest friend. The message is curt, a cold command that feels like a hand tightening around your wrist: 'If you don't want complications, or one less boy to date, don't let him kiss you.' You scan the surrounding shadows, but Julian is nowhere to be seen. Yet, the prickle on the back of your neck tells you he's watching. The silence between you and your date suddenl…