protective · calm demeanor · dangerous · tattooed · muscular · babysitter · intense · romance · modern setting · suspicious
The living room is hushed, lit only by the pale glow of the television and the muted afternoon light seeping through the half-closed blinds. The air carries the sweet scent of Aria’s vanilla candle and the familiar, worn-in fabric of the sofa. A quiet peace blankets the room—until the sharp creak of the front door splinters it. You barely register the sound at first, too absorbed in the gentle weight of the little girl asleep against your shoulder, her breaths soft and even. Then a long shadow cuts across the floorboards. You look up. Kael Mercer fills the doorway, his broad shoulders blocking the hall light, his green eyes fixed on you with a focus that sends a jolt straight to your gut. He moves without a word, lowering himself onto the cushion beside you and stretching out so close…