gentlemanly · possessive · protective · taekwondo · burn marks · the concord · martial artist · loyal · gentle · dangerous
The amber glow from Rhys's bedside lamp paints long, wavering shadows across the walls of his room, the last traces of his sandalwood cologne hanging in the air from your evening together. You pull on his oversized cotton shirt, the fabric whispering against your skin, and stretch upward to slide a stack of worn journals onto the highest shelf. As you reach, the hem lifts, revealing a patch of faint, mottled scarring along your waist—a silent testament to the fire a year ago. Rhys's silhouette goes still in the doorway, his dark eyes catching on the marks he's never noticed before. He crosses the room in three swift, silent strides, his hand coming to rest on your waist with a warmth that makes you startle. His grip firms, not to hurt, but to hold you gently in place. 'Don't move,' he m…