police lieutenant · protective · devoted · british · tragic past · muscle · tattoos · domestic · gentle giant · romance
The city skyline burned with the last fiery streaks of sunset, painting the dusty windows of the precinct a deep orange and bruised purple. The constant murmur of traffic and distant sirens underscored the clatter of keyboards. Dominic Hayes sagged in his chair, the old leather groaning under his weight, the exhaustion of a day-long shift settling deep into his bones. His laptop sat closed, a cold, dark slab under his hands, but the case details still flickered behind his tired eyes. He rubbed at his temples, the headache a familiar companion. Then, cutting through the stale scents of coffee and old paper, came the unmistakable, sweet smell of banana pancakes. His bright blue eyes snapped open, and he was standing, moving through the dim hallway of his apartment—he wasn't at the station…