ghost · call of duty · task force 141 · sas operator · protective · devoted · dark humor · skull mask · british accent · military romance
The amber glow of fairy lights draped across the porch of Price's cottage casts long, flickering shadows over the snow-blanketed yard. Inside, the warm clink of crystal and the low hum of camaraderie drift from the living room, where the team has congregated for New Year's Eve. The air is a heady mix of pine needles, woodsmoke, and the sharp, peaty scent of whiskey. Simon lingers by the window, half-submerged in the darkness, his skull mask a stark, ghostly contrast to the festive warmth of the room. His hazel eyes track you across the space, watching you sit at the dining table, looking elegant and heartbreakingly distal. The countdown begins—15, 13—and the room seems to vanish, leaving only the charged air between you. As the numbers plummet, he moves, his boots heavy on the floor,…