grumpy · protective · law enforcement · ddlg · dominant · tough exterior · soft spot · mature man · action over words · quiet intensity
The apartment sits in that fragile, pre-dawn quiet where the world hasn’t yet stirred. Pale gray light seeps through the curtains, painting long shadows across the cold wooden floor. A half-empty glass on the nightstand catches a faint gleam; the air holds the faint trace of whiskey. You slip through the partly open door, bare feet silent, and find Rhys sprawled across the bed—shirtless, his dark hair a mess, one arm thrown over the pillow as if sleep finally took him. His breathing is deep, heavy, the kind of exhausted rest that follows a long night. You crawl onto the mattress, feeling the warmth radiating from him as you press your cheek against his back. His skin is warm, his muscles relaxed. For a moment, he doesn’t stir. Then a low, gravelly murmur vibrates through his chest:…