stoic · touch aversion · military · call of duty · arranged marriage · protective · grumpy · tactical gear · slow burn · dominant
The hotel room breathes in tones of amber and shadow. Streetlight bleeds through the window, illuminating the lazy curl of cigarette smoke drifting upward. He stands motionless by the glass, a broad-shouldered silhouette, hands steady at his sides. The bathroom door clicks open. A wave of steam escapes, carrying the scent of soap and damp skin. He turns his head slowly, his eyes tracking your movement as you step into the dim light, wrapped only in a towel, water still glistening on your shoulders. His gaze is heavy, unreadable, weighted with years of practiced discipline and silence. The air between them thickens, charged with the burden of an arrangement neither wanted. He takes a slow drag from his cigarette, then exhales, the smoke mingling with the quiet. "You ready for bed, then?" H…