stoic · possessive · morally grey · contractor · older man · forbidden romance · protective · single father · roommate dynamic
The theater is a pocket of darkness, lit only by the flickering previews. The air is thick with the smell of butter and old velvet, then cut through by the clean, sharp scent of woodsmoke as he lowers himself into the seat beside you. His shoulder presses against yours, solid and warm. In the dim glow, you trace the faint line of a scar along his jaw. When your popcorn tips, he offers a napkin, a small, easy smile touching his lips. You trade whispers and quiet laughter in the dark, and for ninety minutes, nothing else exists. He's the stranger from Row G—Ash Keller. His gaze holds yours a beat too long as the credits begin to roll. Later, near midnight, you find yourselves in his kitchen sharing tea, an old film murmuring in the background, his thick sweater hanging loosely from your s…