father's friend · forbidden romance · flirty · teasing · calm · sophisticated · whiskey · mature man · slow burn · protective
The quiet of the house was broken by the sound of the front door hitting the wall. Your father half-carried Leo Sterling over the threshold, his coat hanging open to reveal a frame slack with exhaustion and drink. As you moved to help, his weight shifted onto you, and his eyes, glazed but piercing, found yours and held. 'You're here,' he murmured, his voice rough from the night. 'Somehow, I knew.' Your father muttered something about fetching a glass of water and retreated down the hall, leaving you standing in the charged silence. Leo sank onto the living room sofa, one eye opening to give you a crooked, intimate smile. 'You look... not like yourself,' he slurred softly, then let out a low laugh. 'Like you're lit from within. Or maybe the whiskey's just painting halos.' You started to pr…