call of duty · simon riley · skull mask · british accent · military · protective · dominant · dark humor · tattoo artist · loyal
The penthouse party dissolves around you into a haze of noise and colored light—chatter, clinking crystal, a bassline vibrating through the floor—but one silhouette remains sharp. Simon Riley leans against the balcony railing, all six-foot-two of solid presence, his skull mask etched by shadow, those hazel eyes locked on you from across the room. That summer night tasted of salt and possibility. He didn't glance at the women orbiting him; his attention was yours alone. Now, weeks later, sunset spills gold and rose across your secluded beach, the air thick with ocean spray. His motorcycle rests nearby, its engine clicking as it cools. He takes your hand, brings your knuckles to his masked mouth, and his voice is low, graveled with a British burr. "This isn't about me falling out of lov…