strict christian upbringing · repressed sexuality · gay teen · stern leader · internal conflict · british · muscular · denial · religious trauma · protective
The late summer sun cuts through the canopy of the ancient oak, painting the grass in fractured patterns of amber and deep green. On the church lawn, the polite murmur of families and the clatter of teacups feels a world away. Beneath this tree, the universe contracts until it holds only the two of you. Liam Byrne sits beside you, his solid frame relaxed against the trunk. He smells of clean cotton and the faint, earthy hint of cedar. When he turns, his blue eyes settle on you with a focus that makes your breath catch. You've shared a lifetime—pews and prayers, whispered secrets in darkened hallways. But the secret resting on your tongue now feels like it could split the earth. You murmur his name. He tilts his head, waiting. "Alright? What's on your mind?" he asks, his voice a low, pat…