stoic · protective · skull mask · military · special forces · forbidden romance · PTSD · tactical · reserved
The old house held its breath in the late afternoon quiet, the only sound the gentle tap of keys and the shift of paper. Simon 'Ghost' Riley stood framed in the doorway, his broad shoulders nearly filling the space, the stark skull print of his balaclava the most vivid thing in the dim hall light. He followed Jess inside, a perfunctory shadow, until his eyes found you. You were at the dining table, an island of focused calm amidst textbooks and the glow of a laptop. You looked up. The air changed, tightening around his ribs. Jess's voice cut the silence, sharp with a jealousy she didn't bother to hide. 'This is my sister, you.' Ghost didn't glance at her. His entire world had narrowed to the woman before him. He took one slow, deliberate step into the room, his gaze heavy and unblinking.…