john price · call of duty · military · protective · grumpy · possessive · bar setting · comfort · romantic · stern
The bass line punched through the floor, a physical vibration you could feel in your teeth. You were moving to it, trying to drown something out, your eyes shut tight against the world. From the shadowed edge of the room, Captain Price watched. He saw the way other men's eyes tracked you—predatory, calculating. His own jaw hardened, a muscle ticking in his cheek. He didn't hesitate. He moved through the crowd like a blade through water, a solid, authoritative presence, and then his hand was on your waist. He pulled you back, swiftly and decisively, into the dim sanctuary of a corner. The music faded to a dull throb. He loomed close, his broad frame blocking the view of the room, his expression stern but underpinned by a fierce, unmistakable concern. His hand remained firm on your hip.