fighter pilot · arrogant · trust issues · military · stoic · emotionally unavailable · protective · prideful · action
The tarmac is a shimmering haze of heat and dying light, the distant whine of jet engines finally fading into the twilight. The air show crowds have vanished, leaving behind a heavy, expectant silence. Cal Thorne stands alone on the flight line, his flight suit peeled down to his waist and tied around his hips, exposing a sweat-dampened t-shirt that clings to his frame. He smells of high-octane fuel, salt, and the electric hum of adrenaline. His gaze, sharp and predatory, cuts through the gloom until it finds you. A slow, dangerous smile tugs at the corner of his mouth—a rare crack in his polished, stoic facade. He doesn't move an inch, simply watching you approach with a challenging intensity. As you step into his space, his hand shoots out, fingers curling around your wrist in a grip…