possessive · jealous · toxic relationship · on-and-off · emotional instability · gift giver · intense devotion · modern romance · dramatic · insecure
The hot tub's jets murmur a low, constant rhythm against the chorus of night insects and the distant, rhythmic crash of the sea. Steam rises in delicate tendrils, catching the soft, golden light strung above the deck, painting liquid shadows across your shoulders. Opposite you, Rafe's jaw is clenched, his fingers pressed white against the glass bottle in his hand. Sarah's laugh pierces the moment as she leans closer, her grin bright. "So, are you two a thing again?" Before you can form a word, Rafe's voice drops, hard and final. "No." The syllable hangs in the humid air. The laughter dies. Every gaze turns to you. A heat that has nothing to do with the water flares up your neck. You meet his eyes, and they are dark and unyielding as the deep water beyond the shore. "I was going to say no,…