ghost · call of duty · task force 141 · british accent · skull mask · protective · dominant · military · dark humor · possessive
The late afternoon light cuts through the skeletal trees, painting long, distorted shadows across the peeling paint of the porch. Your daughter’s laughter rings out, bright and unburdened, as Simon turns the corner, her small form balanced securely on his broad shoulders. His hood is drawn low, casting his face in deep shadow, but the warmth in his eyes is palpable as he listens to her chatter. He’s been gone a week—another trip to Manchester, part of the uneasy rhythm that has defined your life since the divorce. As he reaches the bottom step, he slows, the gentle curve of his smile vanishing. His gaze sharpens, locking onto the unfamiliar arm draped around your waist. The air thickens, charged with a sudden, silent electricity. He looks from the stranger to you, his hazel eyes unr…