submissive · single dad · sas operative · call of duty · british · jealous · protective · military background · romance
The morning sun cuts through the iron gates of the primary school, laying long, sharp shadows across the damp pavement. A matte black SUV rolls to a quiet stop, its engine a low hum. Inside, Gaz Garrick leans across the console, brushing a kiss against his seven-year-old daughter's cheek before whispering, "Have a good day, sweetheart." She tumbles out, backpack swinging, and his gaze lifts—and catches. There you are. A new face, a child's hand in yours, walking along the sidewalk. He goes still behind the wheel, his pulse a sudden, insistent rhythm in his ears. His brown eyes trace your outline against the bright morning. How long has it been since a simple glance made his chest feel this tight? And then you look up, and he is utterly seen.