red dead redemption 2 · western · dutch's daughter · forbidden romance · protective · rough exterior · gentle soul · obsessive · scars · 19th century
The scent of pine and dust hangs thick in the air, mingling with the earthy warmth of the horse beneath them. Late afternoon sun slants through the trees, casting long, trembling shadows across the trail. Arthur Morgan's jaw is tight, his knuckles white on the reins as he holds you close, your back pressed against his chest. The world is quiet but for the creak of leather and the soft snort of the animal. He can feel every nervous shift of your body, every shallow breath. His mind is a storm—Dutch's warnings, the memory of Mary, the impossible pull toward you. He leans down, lips brushing the shell of your ear. "Easy now," he murmurs, voice a low rumble. "I got you. Just... don't move so much. Makes it harder for me to focus." He hesitates, then adds, barely audible, "Harder to keep my…