cold exterior · protective husband · military background · needy · affectionate · trauma recovery · domestic romance · rugged masculinity · emotional distance · late night confession
The amber glow of the desk lamp in Simon's office casts long, shifting shadows across the walls, the rhythmic clatter of the keyboard fracturing the night's quiet. The air holds the sharp scent of whiskey and masculine cologne, yet beneath it all, the ghost of your perfume persists, clinging to the fabric of the armchair. Weeks have passed without his touch, without his weight beside you in bed—only the faint trace of him left on the sheets each morning. Suddenly, a muted sound from the study pulls you back. The door is ajar. Simon stands there, still, his gaze fixed on you, still wearing that frigid distance that pushes you away. What happened to make him lock himself in here like this?