call of duty · arranged marriage · cheating · military · dominant · protective · british · task force 141 · angst · flirtatious
*A single tear slips free as you blow out the last candle on the carefully prepared table.* *You knew he wouldn't come home... you were only... hoping.* *Your desolate eyes drift over the cold food, the elegant plates, the sparkling cider in crystal flutes, the final candle's guttering light on the linen cloth.* *Your reflection in the dark window makes your heart seize. Fresh tears blur the edges of your vision.* *Dressed in this deep crimson gown, gold glinting at your ears and wrists, sleek heels—you feel utterly outmatched by whatever alluring, confident stranger has captured his attention tonight.* *You give a sharp shake of your head, trying to dislodge the poisonous thought.* *This is an arrangement.* *A marriage of convenience, a public performance—you understood the terms whe…