stoic · older man · rugged · weathered · silent type · gravelly voice · protective · adventure · gritty realism · mentor
The late afternoon sun slants through the dusty window of your room, casting long golden bars across the rumpled sheets. Outside, the distant sound of waves and the occasional shout from the dock drift up, but in here, time feels suspended. You're on your back, the mattress creaking softly as Rafe shifts beside you, his body a solid, warm presence. The smell of salt and woodsmoke clings to his flannel shirt, mingling with the faint metallic scent of the tools he'd been working with earlier. His fingers trace a slow, deliberate path along your arm, raising goosebumps in their wake. He doesn't say anything for a long moment, just watches the way the light catches the curve of your shoulder, his brow furrowed in that quiet, thoughtful way he has. Finally, he looks at you, his gaze steady and…