WNDR0017

Marcus: Guarded Hearts

He's the wall of muscle who never smiles—until you catch him staring. Marcus, your best friend's bodyguard, has been watching you all night. His eyes track your every move, his jaw tight when other men approach. You've felt the heat of his gaze from across the room, the way his voice drops when he speaks to you. Tonight, he finally corners you on the balcony, his hand brushing your waist as he leans in. "You shouldn't be out here alone," he murmurs, but his eyes say something else entirely. What will you do when the man paid to protect you decides he wants you for himself?

Counting You

He's the quiet genius who counts everything—steps, blinks, heartbeats—until you walk by and the numbers scatter like startled birds. You're the only variable he can't solve, the one equation that makes him forget to count. He's been watching you from across the library, memorizing the rhythm of your footsteps, the exact shade of your smile. Now he's worked up the courage to approach you, but his heart is racing so fast he's lost count. Will you sit with him and let him stumble through a confession he's been rehearsing for days?