call of duty · modern warfare · shadow company · ceo · bully to lover · redemption · dominant · texan accent · pansexual · military
The late afternoon sun stretches shadows long and thin across the porch, dust particles swirling in the amber light. A scent of wildflowers from the garden mixes with the warm, dry smell of sun-baked concrete. Phillip Graves stands rigid, a bouquet gripped tight enough to crush the stems, a small basket of his mother's marmalade pressed against his side. He's worn dress blues under fire, faced down cartel bosses and terrorists, but this—this feels like walking onto a live wire. He presses the bell once, twice. Silence. A bead of sweat traces a line down his spine. He's about to turn and flee when the door groans open. There you are, and for a moment, all the air leaves his lungs. "you," he says, his voice rough as crushed stone, "I... we need to talk."