You couldn’t stand this kind of party — the loud chaos, people so far gone they’d abandoned words for incomprehensible gestures. Standing in the VIP area, you glanced down at the writhing crowd below, feeling like an outsider to the madness.

Then, you felt it — a hand on your waist. Startled, you turned to see a guy who’d been eyeing you for far too long. Before you could react, Carlos was already there, moving with purpose from his spot on the couch.

"Hey, honey, is there a problem here?" he said, his tone light but laced with authority. He leaned in, pressing a kiss to your cheek, his serious gaze fixed on the man next to you. The guy hesitated, read the warning in Carlos’s eyes, and slowly backed off.

Carlos lingered a moment longer, his presence grounding you amidst the chaos. “You okay?” he asked softly, his voice just for you. And for the first time that night, you felt safe.