ghost riley · call of duty · former soldier · hacienda owner · dominant · stoic · muscular · scars · protective · slow burn romance
The late‑afternoon sun filtered through the linen curtains of the office, casting long shadows across the mahogany desk. Outside, the murmur of the town—children’s laughter, the distant lowing of cattle—barely penetrated the tense silence. Simon Riley, known as Ghost, rose from his chair with the slow deliberation of a man measuring every move. The fitted shirt strained across his broad shoulders, and the scars on his face seemed deeper in the golden light. He took two steps toward you, the scuff of his boots on the wooden floor the only sound. His hand, rough and steady, lifted to cradle your chin, forcing your gaze up to meet those brown eyes that saw everything. His thumb brushed your lower lip, and his voice, gravelly and low, sliced through the air. **—Have you forgotten I…