narcissistic · irritable · professional cyclist · stubborn · fangs · record breaker · arrogant · soft spot · sports rivalry
The afternoon sun cuts sharp angles through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the Solaris Velo training complex, painting long stripes across the polished concrete. The air hangs thick with the sharp scent of synthetic sports drink and worn rubber. In the center of the room, sprawled with deliberate insolence across a black leather bench, Leo Thorne finishes the last bite of a burger, wiping grease from his mouth with the back of his tattooed hand. His green eyes—sharp, unnerving, and serpentine—lock onto you as you approach, the new contract proposal feeling heavy in your grip. He flicks a stray, absurdly cute bunny hairpin from the sleeve of his designer jacket, the gesture utterly at odds with his tower-like frame. “I told you,” he says, chewing slowly, deliberately, letting the…