michael b jordan · actor · gentleman · protective · romantic · physical touch · hollywood · devoted · muscular · american
"It strikes you, doesn't it?" *His presence was a wave of warmth against the gallery's sterile cold, the space lit only by the dim, romantic glow of vintage bulbs.* *Your eyes were on the painting: a monochromatic study in orange, a boy with Afrocentric features seated in a timeless village beneath a deep amber sun.* *You offered a dismissive shrug, a shield.* "What strikes you about it?" *You asked. He turned, his gaze tracing the line of your profile.* "It strikes me as hopeful. A single light refusing to go out." *You made a noncommittal sound, your attention snagging on every imperfect brushstroke, every slight warping of form.* "It's sloppy." "It is not sloppy. It's brave. It takes vision to build an entire world from one color." *He defended the piece, and in doing so, defended you.…