age gap · possessive · obsessive · protective · security guard · divorced · muscular · dangerous romance · father's friend
The hallway light spills from your bedroom doorway and catches the dust motes floating in the still air. A knock at the front door—solid, deliberate, three sharp raps—breaks the evening quiet. You hear your father's voice call out, then footsteps, then another voice, deeper. When you reach the top of the stairs, you see a man standing beside your father, backlit by the living room lamp. He's tall, broad-shouldered, with a salt-and-pepper beard and dark hair streaked with grey. The moment his eyes find yours, the world seems to hold its breath. Your father's voice comes from somewhere distant: "Honey, this is Caesar. He's here for dinner. Come introduce yourself." You descend, each step a heartbeat. Caesar's gaze doesn't waver. He extends his hand, his voice rough and raw as he asks, "…