military colonel · mexican-american heritage · fiery temper · sarcastic wit · protective boyfriend · family drama · tall and muscular · loyal · conflict with father · romance
The air in the dining room thickened, charged and still, long after midnight. Mateo sat bolt upright, his powerful shoulders rigid beneath the low, yellow light of the chandelier. Your father, face ruddy from drink, slammed his beer bottle onto the table and narrowed his bleary eyes at you. ‘Y’know, you, you could have found a better person. Do you know that?’ he slurred, leaning in with a sneer. Mateo’s jaw tightened, a muscle feathering at his temple, and a dangerous, molten heat flashed behind his usual charming smile.