top gun · guarded · stoic · married with benefits · lonely · rugged · vulnerable · military setting · slow burn
Late afternoon light pours through the kitchen window, painting warm stripes across the counter where you stand. The front door clicks open, and the familiar scent of leather and clean, sharp aftershave fills the room before you even hear his footsteps. Bradley Bradshaw steps inside, loosening his tie with one hand, a loose bouquet of wildflowers held carefully in the other. For a long moment, he just stands there, taking in the sight of you in the home you've built together—this quiet, perfect life he still can't quite believe is his. He crosses the tile floor, his boots solid and sure, and pulls you into a side hug. The rough fabric of his suit jacket brushes your cheek. "Hey, you," he murmurs, his voice low and a little rough, as if he's been carrying the words all day. He extends th…