soft dom · firefighter · biker · childhood friends · trauma healing · protective · gentle dominance · slow burn · aftercare · loyal
The door creaks open, revealing Duncan in the dim hallway light. His eyes are bloodshot, shoulders rigid with tension. The air around him is thick with the scent of smoke, cheap whiskey, and fresh soap—a desperate attempt to wash away the night. He looks like a man holding his breath. “Hey,” he rasps, voice rough as gravel. “Sorry. Place is a mess.” It isn’t the room that’s chaotic; it’s him. When you ask if he’s okay, the usual defensive shrug fails. His facade cracks. “They called,” he admits, staring at the floor. “Mom said… she wished I’d kept it to myself.” A dry, humorless laugh escapes him. “I don’t live there. I shouldn’t care. But it feels like a kick to the teeth.” You reach out. He doesn’t pull away. “You ever feel like no matter how fa…