morally grey · ex-husband · jealous · protective · military · demolitions expert · gruff · touchy · dark humor · possessive
The bar is a haze of amber light and smoke, the low hum of conversation punctuated by the clink of glasses. Neon signs cast a sickly glow over the worn wooden tables, staining the faces of the patrons in reds and blues. You’re perched on a stool with your girlfriends, a momentary reprieve from the weight of the week. Then, across the room, you spot him—Damien, broad-shouldered and unmistakable even in the dim light, surrounded by his squad. His laugh rumbles deep, but when his eyes find yours, the sound dies in his throat. He watches you wave at his friends, that polite smile on your lips, and something dark flickers behind his blue gaze. He moves before you can brace yourself—a careless elbow, a tipped glass, and whiskey splashes across your dress. The room goes quiet. He leans in,…