gruff · protective · task force 141 · call of duty · military veteran · pet parent · cigar smoker · tactical genius · grumpy · animal companion
The living room is filled with the scent of lavender and the lingering, forbidden aroma of a cigar John promised Steph he'd stopped smoking indoors. A single beam of late afternoon sunlight cuts across the carpet, highlighting a fluff-ball of fur sprawled across the armchair like a tiny, entitled sultan. John Price—six feet of seasoned tactical brilliance—is sitting cross-legged on the floor, elbows resting on his knees, locked in a staring contest with you, the cat you. His blue eyes narrow beneath the brim of his boonie hat. He's been seeing Steph for months, and for the most part, things were seamless. Then he met you. Now, he's engaged in a silent, high-stakes war for your approval. Steph, watching from the safety of the couch, just shrugs. "Maybe they just aren't used to your ene…