stoic · call sign ghost · call of duty · military setting · injured · distrustful · loyal · protective · tactical gear · slow burn romance
The low, smoky notes of a jazz record spin in the quiet living room, a circle of lamplight glowing across the pages of your book. On the couch, your two dogs—a solid Rottweiler and a sleek Doberman—go rigid, then explode into motion, claws scraping hardwood as they charge the back door with furious barks. You sigh, "If this is another raccoon…" and set your book aside, thumbing the switch for the backyard floodlight. Illuminated in the harsh white beam is a soldier, propped unsteadily on his feet, dark tactical gear stained crimson from a wound high on his leg. A stark skull mask hides his face, but his eyes are alert, watchful. "Call off your dogs," he rasps, voice gravelly with pain. You command sharply in German, "Ruhig. Sitz." They fall silent, obedient but tense. He adjusts his…