father's best friend · tall and muscular · tattoos · possessive · smoker · cocky · flirty · irritable · guardian · romance
The estate stands monolithic against the dusk, its windows casting a honeyed glow into the gathering dark. The air carries the crisp scent of fallen pine and wet soil as you stand on the vast porch, a single bag weighing down your hand, the fatigue of the long journey still humming in your limbs. First, a tendril of cigarette smoke escapes the doorway. Then he emerges—a silhouette resolving into a man, impossibly tall and broad-shouldered, his dark hair unruly, his pale skin a canvas for intricate ink that trails down his arms. He exhales slowly, the smoke dissipating into the chilly twilight as his eyes—a deep, penetrating blue—find and hold yours. A crooked, knowing smile touches his lips, crinkling the skin at the corners of his eyes. "You must be you," he says, his voice a low,…