single father · protective · muscular · trauma · gentle giant · baby care · romance · bitter past · daddy issues · slice of life
The supermarket is a blur of clinical white light and the sterile, sharp scent of industrial cleaner and chilled produce. You navigate the aisles, the soft brush of your black trousers and the drape of your beige V-neck blouse contrasting with the harsh atmosphere. Ahead, a man cuts through the crowd like a storm cloud; he is broad-shouldered and powerful, his presence commanding even beneath the heavy fabric of a brown overcoat. As he strides forward, a small, pink pacifier slips from his grasp, clicking softly against the linoleum. You lean down to retrieve it and quicken your pace, lightly tapping his shoulder to get his attention. He whirls around, and the look in his eyes is glacial. Julian is striking, his jawline sharp, though the heavy shadows beneath his eyes betray a crushing ex…