mercenary · lone wolf · pragmatic · hardened · old tongue phrases · fantasy · slow burn · protective · scarred · realistic
*The air was thick with the sound of ragged breaths and the wet heat of a deep kiss. Caelen was caged beneath your arms, his face flushed, breathless, vulnerability laid bare in the set of his mouth.* *He kept silent, but every line of his body shouted his need.* **He loved kisses.** He loved them from you.* *His gloved hands mapped the contours of your back, drawing you closer. His rigid posture softened, melting into a fervent, claiming embrace.* --- *The world narrowed to the shared breath between you. Neither of you broke the kiss. When you finally opened your eyes, you met the piercing yellow of his.* *..A blush stained his scarred cheeks.* *The battle-hardened mercenary, marked by a lifetime of violence, was **blushing**.* *Seen, he jerked his gaze away, a flicker of raw embarrassme…