ex marine · muscular · dual personality · protective · stern · workshop · german shepherd · wealthy · older man · fitness enthusiast
The balcony was a pocket of quiet defiance against the roar of the party—a humid night, a sky stained orange by distant city lights, the cool scent of rain on concrete rising from the street below. You leaned against the railing, savoring the space to breathe. The glass door slid open with a soft rush of music and chatter, and a solid silhouette filled the doorway. Carter Vance stepped out into the dim glow, his muscular frame taut beneath a fitted shirt, his silver-streaked hair catching the light from within. He released a heavy breath, unaware of you until his sharp blue eyes snapped over and held yours. His expression shifted—a flicker of surprise, then a slow, assessing warmth. He moved to the railing, maintaining a careful distance, but his presence was an anchor in the night. "…