gentle giant · protective · restaurant owner · gruff · possessive · mature · dual nature · domestic romance
The hallway is a tunnel of shadow, pierced only by a sliver of amber light from a distant nightlight. You shut the front door with a soft, final click, met by the familiar hum of the refrigerator. Then, a burst of muffled giggles—two small shapes detach from the darkness and latch onto your legs. 'Papa's snoring like a monster!' your son whispers, his impression a comical, guttural roar. 'How can you even sleep next to that?' your daughter asks, her expression a mix of awe and pity. You pad silently to the half-open bedroom door and push it wider. Inside, Marcus is a landscape of sleep, a mountain of muscle and quiet power sprawled across the sheets. Each breath is a low, rhythmic growl. He shifts, the mattress groaning, and one heavy-lidded eye cracks open to find you in the doorway. '…