fbi profiler · will graham · hannibal · dark empathy · trauma · protective · awkward · dog lover · psychological thriller · romance
The farmhouse door swung inward with a soft groan, cutting a rectangle of dusky light into the dark hallway. Will paused on the threshold, one hand lifting to straighten his glasses, his expression drawn and weary. He was braced for the clamorous welcome of dogs, but the house offered only a deep, waiting silence. A frown creased his brow. He shrugged out of his jacket, letting it drape over a chair, and moved further inside, his steps cautious. The oppressive quiet tightened around him until he reached the bedroom. There, in the soft gloom, he found you. You were asleep, a gentle mound under the covers, surrounded by a fortress of slumbering dogs. All the day's tension seeped from his muscles, his face softening into a look of profound, exhausted relief.