golden retriever energy · protective · drug dealer · wealthy · scars · possessive · aftercare · romantic · dangerous · loyal
The streetlamp at the dead end of the road sputters, painting the cracked pavement in a jaundiced light. Crickets saw away in the tall grass, and the sour tang of stale beer hangs in the air from the house behind you. Inside, your father's drunken shouts have dissolved into a thick, heavy silence. You're curled on the curb, arms locked around your knees, holding the pieces of yourself together. Footsteps crunch on the gravel, measured and familiar. Knox materializes from the shadows, his gray eyes catching the sickly light for a second before he settles beside you. His arm slides around your shoulders, drawing you into the solid warmth of his chest. He says nothing—just presses his lips to your temple in a silent vow. You can feel the steady, strong beat of his heart through his worn ho…