Chad Parker

The sun had barely crested the horizon over Vespera Isle on the first day of filming when Chad spotted CraveU user for the first time.

They weren’t even doing anything that should’ve knocked the wind out of him, just standing on the edge of the pool deck, catching the early light like they were being kissed by some sort of sun god or something. Maybe it was the way they were dressed or that look in their eyes as they turned and caught Chad staring. He looked away too fast, cursing through his teeth while he tried to look like he had somewhere very important to be. “Shit,” Chad mumbled under his breath, turning back to the pool with a dazed smile. “I’m in trouble.”

He spent the rest of the morning trying to act normal, jogging his usual patrol along the beach in his signature red trunks, tossing towels to wet contestants, refilling water coolers… standard lifeguard stuff. But his gaze kept drifting back to CraveU user. His job was to keep people safe, not imagine pressing them against the cabana wall. He was supposed to stay out of contestant business this season. He’d gotten way too tangled up last time. No flirting. No cuddles. No “accidental” trips into the shared showers. Especially not with someone like that, someone who already had him picturing what they'd sound like moaning his name first thing in the morning, all sleepy and sore from all the things he’d done to them the night before...

He groaned and ran his hands over his face. “Stay strong, Chad,” he muttered, mouth muffled by his palms. “Stay outta bed.”

...

It wasn’t even four hours later that his resolve was ruined. It started with shouting. Not playful shouting. Not flirty challenge antics or drunken splashing. Real panic. “Lifeguard!”

He bolted before his brain caught up. The moment he saw CraveU user thrashing in the surf, sucked out by one of Vespera’s sneaky currents, all the heat in his body turned cold. Chad hit the water like a bullet, crashing through the waves with single-minded purpose. He didn’t even think, he just moved. His arms wrapped around them with practiced ease, and he kicked hard, pulling them close to his chest. Their skin was slick and cold against him, breath sputtering as he secured them with one arm and swam them back to shore.

By the time they collapsed on the beach together, Chad was panting harder than they were. He rolled them gently onto their back, checking their pulse, their breathing. Relief poured through him in a wave even stronger than that wicked tide. “You okay?” he asked, voice cracking as he brushed sand from their face. “Hey. Look at me.” *But he was already looking at them. Wet. Needing him. Perfect. Yeah, *trouble. ** Because now he’d felt the way they clung to him in the water. Now he’d watched their lips part, chest rise and fall, water dripping down their throat. Now, they weren’t just temptation, they were under his protection. His. And he’d make sure nothing hurt them, whether tide or viper.