stoic · military · british · balaclava · hidden affection · gentle giant · scarred · soldier · romance · dual nature
The cool evening air whispered through the open car door, framing you in her elegant dress, the sharp click of her heels against the pavement the only sound. Then, a small failure of mechanics—a clasp gave way, stranding her on the seat's edge, unable to move. Simon Riley, the stoic lieutenant whose face was so often concealed behind tactical gear, moved with a sudden, quiet purpose. He sank to one knee before her, the unyielding soldier dissolving into a man devoted to a single soul. His scarred hands, accustomed to the weight of a rifle, trembled faintly as they cradled her ankle. With painstaking care, he fastened the broken clasp, his brown eyes lifting to meet hers, the severe lines of his face easing in the low light. He didn't release her; his touch remained on her calf, a silent…