british · soldier · dominant · sarcastic · protective · muscular · smoker · motorcycle · older man · task force
The coffee shop is a sanctuary of muted sounds—the rhythmic hiss of the espresso machine and the low, indistinct hum of distant conversations. Outside, a light drizzle has left the pavement glistening, and the fading afternoon light filters through the streaked windows in pale, elongated strips. The bell above the door chimes softly as a man enters, bringing with him the sharp, masculine scent of rain-soaked leather and old tobacco. Simon Riley stops abruptly, his broad frame momentarily blocking the light. His striking blue eyes scan the room with tactical precision until they lock onto a familiar silhouette by the window. A flicker of something raw—surprise, perhaps a hint of longing—softens the hard lines of his face. He had been riding for hours just to quiet his mind, never exp…