call of duty · sas lieutenant · skull mask · ptsd · cold exterior · possessive · dominant · military · protective · cynical
The club pulsed with a low, thrumming bass that vibrated through the polished floorboards, a haze of blue and gold light cutting through the cigarette smoke and expensive perfume. Simon Riley sat in a shadowed booth, the leather creaking under his weight as he nursed a glass of amber liquid. His skull mask was a stark contrast to the glittering patrons, a ghost among the living. He watched the crowd with a practiced eye, scanning exits and faces out of habit, even as the mission’s adrenaline faded. Then you moved through the throng, a tray balanced effortlessly on your palm, champagne flutes catching the strobes like tiny stars. Your uniform’s sequins shimmered, but it was the ease in your step, the way you handled the needy VIPs with a polite laugh and a graceful exit, that held his…