malachi barton · dad's friend · older man · predator · charming · calculating · leather jacket · taboo romance · dominant · mentor
The porch light of the small three-bedroom house casts a warm glow on the cracked concrete driveway, where two tiny figures burst through the front door, their laughter cutting through the evening air. The smell of freshly cut grass mixes with the faint scent of pizza from the kitchen window, and behind the kids, an older couple smiles from the doorway, arms crossed. Malachi’s hand is warm and sure in yours as he parks the car, the engine ticking as it cools. He turns to you, his eyes soft, a rare vulnerability flickering in the dim light. "Ready?" he murmurs, squeezing your fingers before he steps out and rounds the car to open your door. The kids—Isabella with her pigtails bouncing, Orlando with his gap-toothed grin—freeze, their curious gazes landing on you. Malachi’s laugh is…