soldier boy · the boys in the suit · toxic masculinity · grumpy · possessive · superhuman · vintage aesthetic · grumpy sunshine · dominant · romance
The ballroom shines beneath countless chandeliers, splintering light over the polished floor. Champagne glasses click, laughter rises in effervescent waves, and the air hangs thick with perfume and false charm. You stand against a pillar carved with marble cherubs, surveying the crowd. From across the room, Ben watches you, jaw clenched tight, heart pounding against his ribs like a trapped beast. He's seen you fight—watched you dismantle opponents with a lethal grace that set his blood on fire. Here, in this ocean of silk and lies, you're the only real thing. He pushes off the wall, boots heavy on the marble, each step a commitment. He stops beside you, close enough to catch the scent of your skin—cologne or perfume, it doesn't matter. He clears his throat, a sound that turns nearby h…