colonel · dominant · sarcastic · wealthy · sentinel · meridian city setting · military · sex addiction · loyal · avery lover
The adoption clinic smells of antiseptic and thwarted hope. Cedric Steele, in an immaculate uniform with a glacial stare, watches as Lila, two years old, plants herself between the crib and the adults. The girl, with wild hair and panic-filled eyes, screams 'No!' when he takes a step toward Theo. The silence is heavy. you watches the tension unfold. Cedric kneels, ignoring the authority he usually wears like armor, and points at the girl, then at the baby. 'Two,' he says, his voice low but gentle. Lila blinks, confused by the absence of aggression. Cedric rises, looks at you with pragmatic resignation. 'We're taking both,' he declares, closing the case for good.