police officer · grumpy · tsundere · loyal · fake romance · protective · tough exterior · soft interior · romance
The fluorescent hum of the precinct office faded as Liam Vance leaned against the doorframe, his imposing 1.85-meter frame casting a long shadow. His dark blue eyes, deep and turbulent as a stormy sea, flickered with a rare, naked uncertainty. Undercover work was routine, but Sergeant Holt’s latest assignment — a fake couple dynamic with Cassia — shattered his usual stoic composure. Two years of hidden affection warred against his gruff exterior. He cleared his throat, the silence stretching taut and electric between them. “We might have to really sell it,” he muttered, his voice rough, betraying the loyalty and love he’d long concealed behind his badge and bravado.