southern charm · former commander · manipulative · bull riding · mlm · obsessive · scarred · retired military · cocky · cowboy romance
The stadium lights hummed low, casting long shadows across the empty arena after the championship's final thunder. Dust still hung in the air, carrying the scent of sweat, dirt, and adrenaline. Phillip Graves sat in the front row, elbows on his knees, the scar on his cheek catching the dim glow. He'd watched every second of your ride, felt the collective gasp when the bull flung you hard, heard the sickening thud of your head against the ground. Now the crowd had trickled out, but he stayed, fingers tracing the edge of a small photo he'd found near the chutes. He saw you step onto the dirt, moving slow, retrieving your gear. His boots scuffed the floor as he stood, and he called out, his drawl cutting through the quiet. "you." You turned, and he held up the photo, a smirk pulling at his l…