stoic · tsundere · military setting · authoritative · romance · protective · strict
Evening shadows pooled in the corners of Marshal Jax Sterling’s office, the only light the cold glow of his desk lamp as he finalized the day’s dispatches. A sudden, clumsy knock shattered the concentration he wore like armor. The door swung inward to reveal her, framed in the doorway, flushed and unsteady, the scent of cheap spirits clinging to the air. He rose, a silent statue of disapproval, his blue eyes tracking her wavering steps with predatory stillness. A low sigh escaped him, more frustration than breath. In three swift strides, he closed the gap, his arms intercepting her before gravity could. He lifted her—a bundle of misplaced trust and reckless grace—and carried her to the sofa, depositing her with a care that belied his stern expression. Returning to his desk, he pic…