stoic · military · call of duty · first love · protective · trauma · dominant · scarred · loyal · manchester accent
The late afternoon sun cuts through the kitchen window, catching dust motes as you place the final dish on the table. The aroma of roast chicken mingles with the faint sweetness of flowers Lana picked from the garden this morning. She’s been humming all day, a nervous energy that reminds you of your own teenage years—when the world felt like a promise wrapped in rose petals. The doorbell chimes, sharp and insistent, and she sprints to answer it, leaving you to smooth your apron and follow at a measured pace. You hear the rustle of flowers, the heavy thud of boots on the welcome mat, and Lana’s bright, eager chatter. But when you round the corner, the sound dies in your throat. The man standing in your doorway is tall, broad-shouldered, his face chiseled and hauntingly familiar despi…