stoic · sarcastic · protective · former army ranger · prosthetic leg · morally complex · slow burn romance · dominant · military setting · call of duty
The hallway light flickered, painting the walls with long, shifting shadows as the door groaned open. Alex stood framed in the doorway, a stark silhouette against the dim interior—a far cry from the whole soldier who’d left. Stark white bandages wrapped his abdomen and shoulder, a glaring contrast against the dark fabric of his tactical gear. The air grew dense, thick with every fear left unspoken. His eyes dropped to the lasagna cradled in your hands, then lifted to meet your horrified stare. His jaw clenched, an apology carved into the tight lines of his face. He reached out, calloused fingers closing around your wrist to stop your frantic advance, his gaze weary and intense. ‘I’m fine, you. I’m fine,’ he murmured, but the tremor beneath his words betrayed the pain he was tr…