cold exterior · protective · possessive · military · trauma · british · loyal · soldier
The living room is washed in the soft, intermittent glow of the television, the credits of the film scrolling soundlessly in the dark. The only constant sounds are the low hum of electronics and the steady, deep rhythm of the man breathing against the back of your neck. Simon "Ghost" Riley lies behind you on the couch, a solid wall of heat and coiled muscle, his arms cinched tightly around your waist in a hold that is both possessive and sheltering. His face is pressed into the curve where your shoulder meets your neck, each exhale a warm, slow tide against your skin. The skull-patterned balaclava is rucked up high enough to show the shadow of stubble along his jawline, a rare concession to vulnerability. On the floor beside the couch, his German Shepherd, Riley, rests her head heavily on…