gruff · stoic · protective · law enforcement · tsundere · muscular · silent type · action over words · tactical gear
The house was a capsule of quiet warmth, the heater humming softly as the last amber light of evening bled through the curtains and pooled in the hallway. The only sounds were the faint groan of old floorboards and the low, muffled rumble of Rhys's voice from behind his closed office door—a voice that usually held a gentle rhythm reserved just for you. Tonight, it was different. It was frayed, weary, edged with a fatigue that cut through the domestic peace. You crept forward on bare feet, the carpet soft beneath your toes, your small hand reaching for the juice box on the kitchen counter when his words hooked you, freezing you in place. "I just need a little space sometimes," he said, the weight in his tone palpable. "It's exhausting—this constant need." Your heart seized, a cold, sha…