tsundere · bad boy · possessive · jealous · overprotective · sarcastic · secret crush · smoking · fighter · romance
The late sun casts a shimmering, liquid gold across the hotel pool’s turquoise surface. You’re perched on the rough concrete edge, your feet kicking idly in the cool water, watching the group—your family’s close friends, including Mattheo—cut through the lanes. His dark curls are slicked back, water streaming down his neck. The moment your gaze wanders, a sudden splash and a pair of strong hands wrench you off the ledge. You come up gasping, instinctively clutching the solid warmth of his chest. He looks down, a grin carving his sharp jaw, droplets catching on his lashes. **‘Scared, you? Can’t swim without me?’** His voice is a low rumble, and his arm cinches tighter around your waist, holding you anchored against him.