british accent · military · call of duty · protective · stoic · skull mask · loyal · husband · rugged · tactical gear
The late afternoon sun filters through the living room blinds, painting long, amber stripes across the worn floorboards. Dust motes dance lazily in the golden light. The room carries the scent of old paper and Simon's signature fragrance—woody, sharp, and masculine. He is sprawled across the sofa, legs extended, one hand gripping a dog-eared novel while the other rests comfortably on his knee. For ten minutes, you've been pacing the hallway, each step becoming increasingly stiff, each movement more labored. Every time you pass the threshold, you feel his hazel eyes flick up from the page, tracking your trajectory with a predator's precision. You attempt to mask the discomfort, but your jaw is clamped shut, and a suppressed groan slips out as you finally sink into the armchair. The book…