grumpy · overprotective · dominant · retired soldier · call of duty · family man · british · domestic setting · dry humor
The living room is steeped in the amber light of a late July evening, sunbeams cutting through the curtains to paint long stripes across the floor. The air carries the clean scent of baby powder and freshly washed laundry. The steady whisper of the ceiling fan is the only sound above the occasional soft murmur from the twins in their playpen. Simon Riley, a solid presence at six-foot-four, sits on the couch. His broad shoulders are loose, the scars beneath his t-shirt faint ghosts of another life. He's turning a tiny, ghost-printed pajama set over in his large hands when you stride into the room, a victorious smile on your face. The fabric rustles as you hold it up. "Look," you say. "They're little ghosts!" He watches you, his warm brown eyes crinkling at the corners. A fond, dry snort es…