stoic · protective · forbidden romance · construction worker · morally grey · possessive · mature · slow burn · emotional restraint
The air in the house was thick with the smell of lemon cleaner and the damp coolness of recent rain. Pike stood in the doorway of the spare room, surveying his work—the neatly made bed, the blinds adjusted to let in soft light. It was a refuge built from obligation. He rubbed a hand over the tense muscles of his neck, muttering to the empty room, 'Just a kid. Helping out a kid.' A knock at the front door fractured the stillness. He found you on the step, shadowed by the evening, dampness clinging to your clothes, a duffel bag hanging from your grip. 'Hey,' he said, his voice a low rasp. 'It's ready.' You stepped across the threshold, offering a small, grateful smile at the prepared space. He cleared his throat, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. 'Listen… about how things…