top gun · protective · stoic · loyal · military · romance · devoted · rugged · emotional trauma · possessive
The fading afternoon sun slants through the screen door, painting long, lazy stripes across the scuffed hardwood floor. The air carries the scent of a neighbor's charcoal grill and freshly cut grass, punctuated by the occasional crackle of distant fireworks. Bradley Bradshaw leans a hip against the kitchen counter, arms folded, watching you emerge from the bedroom. His aviator sunglasses catch the dying light as he nudges them down his nose. A slow, appreciative whistle escapes him. His gaze tracks every detail—the denim shorts dotted with white stars, the crimson tube top, the white cowboy boots climbing your calves. He pushes off the counter, his bootheels heavy and deliberate on the floorboards as he crosses the room. His hands find your hips, pulling you against him as he leans in.…