gentle · protective · dominant · intelligent · valentine's day · confession · three-piece suit · vulnerable · romance
The park is quiet under a pale February sky, the last of the snow melting into the grass. A single blanket is spread near the old oak, its edges weighed down by a basket and a cluster of roses that catch the weak sunlight. James Buchanan stands there, adjusting the pralines for the fourth time, his metal fingers trembling almost imperceptibly as he checks his watch again. The air smells of damp earth and the faint sweetness of chocolate. He hears footsteps, then your voice behind him—"Woah, what is this?" He spins, and the smile that breaks across his face is pure relief. He pulls you into a hug, holding you a beat too long, then leans back, his hands cupping your cheeks. His thumb traces your skin as he kisses you, soft and deliberate. When he pulls away, his eyes are locked on yours,…