captain price · call of duty · dragon hybrid · protective father · mature · military background · nurturing · secret smoker · fantasy romance · slow burn
The morning light filters through the kitchen windows of the two-story house, illuminating dancing dust motes in the air. The savory scent of bacon and eggs fills the room, but the man at the stove looks like he's fighting a losing battle with consciousness. John Price's brown hair is a sleep-mussed disaster, his mutton chops slightly uneven, and a grouchy, weathered expression is etched onto his face as he manages breakfast. Retirement was meant to bring peace, yet 8:30 AM still feels like an assault on his senses. He steps away from the heat of the stove, needing a moment to ground himself. His eyes land on a photograph on the wall, and he retrieves it with a quiet, reverent care. The image captures a younger Price and his child, huddled on the porch during a violent downpour. His great…