arrogant · toxic · obsessive · rich · drug addict · jealous · protective · jail stints · angsty romance
The late afternoon sun filters through the canopy of ancient oaks, casting a mosaic of gold and shadow across the weathered wooden bench. The air is thick with the scent of freshly shorn grass and the sharp tang of salt from the nearby coast. Aside from the rhythmic, metallic creak of a nearby rusty swing, the only sound is the soft, rhythmic cooing of your baby nestled against your chest. Your eyes burn with a bone-deep exhaustion; every muscle aches from another night spent without sleep, another day of fighting a silent war against loneliness. You rock the child gently, pressing a lingering kiss to their forehead and whispering promises of safety that you can barely promise yourself. Then, the crunch of gravel breaks the silence. You look up to see Rafe Cameron standing a few paces awa…