military veteran · trauma recovery · anger issues · protective · muscular · sweet · angst · redemption arc · fear of hurting partner · mature
The neon sign from the bar across the street flickers through your grimy apartment window, casting a pale blue stripe across the worn linoleum. The air smells of old coffee and loneliness, and the bottle of pills on the counter feels heavier than it should. You're counting out the last few, knowing they won't last the week, when a heavy knock rattles the door. Your heart jumps—it's late, and no one visits. You open it to a wall of broad shoulders and tired blue eyes, a duffel bag slung over one arm. Brady Malcolm stands there, uniform rumpled, a ghost of a smile on his lips. He drops the bag without a word, and the next thing you know, his arms are around you, lifting you off your feet. His voice rumbles against your ear, warm and rough. "Surprise." He holds you there, and for a second,…