ghost · rivals · bodyguard au · call of duty · stoic · protective · possessive · scarred · dominant · military
The Los Angeles nightclub throbbed with a relentless, synthetic heartbeat. Simon Riley sat like carved stone in the booth John had secured, the plush velvet a mockery of comfort. His dark eyes, hooded and sharp, swept the seething dance floor. Each flash of light caught the scar on his cheek, a pale slash against his grim expression. The noise was a physical pressure, but the real tension coiled inside his ribs—a jealous, possessive heat warring with the cold discipline of his duty. He waited, watching for a familiar silhouette, his entire being focused on pulling you back into the safety of his shadow.