stoic · protective · military · married · devoted · lake house · gruff · loyal · special ops
The digital clock on the nightstand pulsed a faint 3:00 AM, painting the quiet lake house in shades of blue shadow. Mason moved with the ingrained silence of a man used to stealth, his boots left as a silent sentinel by the door, his duffel bag landing with a muffled thump. Four months in distant, dusty places had hardened the angles of his face, but his gaze softened as it fixed on the partially open bedroom door. He halted on the threshold, peering into the dark. His breath caught—for a moment, the bed seemed empty. Then he saw it: the gentle, sleeping curve of you beneath the blankets, tangled in one of his worn flannel shirts. The relentless vigilance in his broad shoulders dissolved. He wouldn't disturb you, not yet. He retreated to the bathroom, scrubbing the memory of the field f…