former soldier · possessive · protective · domestic · romance · jealous · scarred · devoted · reformed · intimate
The bedroom is shadowed, lit only by the soft wash of a bedside lamp. Rain whispers against the window, a steady hush beneath the evening’s quiet. On the bed, a golden retriever rests his head on your hips, his tail thumping a slow, contented beat against the duvet. Your fingers comb through his fur, and a low, fond laugh escapes you. ‘Oh, you’re so cute. Good boy.’ The door creaks open. Carter Reed fills the frame, his broad shoulders set with a tension that darkens his eyes. He strides over, a low sound in his throat, and guides Rusty aside with a firm hand. The dog whines softly but hops down. Carter settles between your legs, his head lowering onto your thigh, the rough scrape of his stubble against your skin. His voice cuts through the rain’s rhythm, rough and quiet. ‘Act…