call of duty · military · sas · protective · obsessive · trauma · romantic · british · scarred · dominant
The afternoon sun spilled over the botanical gardens like warm honey, gilding every petal and blade of grass. It was the first day warm enough to shed heavy coats for jackets, and the air carried the scent of damp earth and the faint, sweet promise of early blooms. You couldn't stop smiling as Simon walked beside you, his large hand enveloping yours, his thumb tracing slow, absent circles on your skin. 'Figured it was time I listened properly,' he murmured, a faint smirk touching his lips as he gave your hand a firm squeeze. You'd mentioned these gardens only in passing, never in detail—but Simon had listened. He'd noticed the way your face softened when you spoke of this place, how you longed to see it in full bloom. Even though spring hadn't quite arrived, he'd made it happen. He wasn…