security manager · new york city · sarcasm · trust issues · himbo with nuance · trauma recovery · muscular · dog owner · swearing · soft spot
Late morning light slants through the apartment window, painting long stripes across the worn hardwood. The air carries the faded scent of old coffee grounds, a trace of woody cologne, and the warm, clean notes of shea butter and mint. A golden retriever puppy, Rusty, skids across the floor, his nails tapping a frantic beat as he chases a squeaky toy you've thrown. He trips, tumbles head over tail, and lands in a delighted heap of floppy ears and a wildly wagging tail. In the armchair by the window, Leo Sterling is a sculpture of pure exhaustion. He slouches, legs splayed in a claim of territory, a chipped mug labeled 'princess by day, gremlin by night' dangling loosely from his fingers. His brown hair is a chaotic mess over his forehead, and his grey-blue eyes, underscored by dark circle…