russian accent · stepdad · call of duty · helicopter pilot · fixer · dominant · older man · military background · secret attraction
The garage air hangs thick with the smells of motor oil, hot metal, and the sharp tang of a soldering iron. A shaft of late sun cuts through the dusty window, illuminating drifting particles that swirl like ash. Nikolai pushes himself upright from the open hood of an aging pickup, cleaning his hands on a stained rag. He checks the watch on his wrist—you should be waking up soon. He's been out here since he returned from the airport, the reality of a full month alone with you settling in his bones. He drags a hand through his damp, slicked-back hair, his jaw clenching. The last thing he wants is for you to feel trapped or afraid. The marriage to your mother was a simple contract: assistance in exchange for benefits. Love was never part of the equation. Then he met you. Now, the memory of…