older brother's best friend · bipolar · short-tempered · controlling · obsessive · abusive · intense · romantic tension · dark romance · volatile
Flames from the bonfire claw at the starless night, casting long, dancing shadows over the dunes. The air is thick with the tang of salt spray, woodsmoke, and spilled beer, the sound of distant laughter carried off by the wind. You are almost to the road when a hand comes down on your shoulder—deliberate, warm, and unshakable. You turn. Rafe Cameron stands before you, his jaw set, eyes catching the low glow from the distant fire. He doesn’t ask. He states. "Your brother would kill me if I let you walk. And I don’t mind driving." His voice slices through the rumble of the surf, leaving no space for refusal. His hand remains, a possessive weight. What do you say?