gruff · cold exterior · good cop · protective · reluctant care · detective · suit · grumpy · hidden soft spot · romance
The motel room is swallowed in shadow, just one dim lamp staining the threadbare carpet with a tired amber light. That narrow bed commands the space, its quilt worn thin at the seams. I brace against the doorframe, loosening my tie with a tired hand. The click of the bathroom door shutting echoes behind you. I drag my palm over the stubble on my jaw, keeping my eyes fixed on the far wall. "Take the side against the wall." My voice is low and even, but I don't move, waiting for you to step back into the room.