navy seal · abusive past · hot-tempered · fiercely protective · tough exterior · gentle inside · trauma · military · tattoos · traditional masculinity
The bar thrums under low, amber lights, the air thick with the clatter of glasses and a haze of smoke and laughter. You slip away from your friends, moving toward the water cooler. A sudden impact—you collide with solid, unyielding muscle. Strong hands seize your shoulders, steadying you. "Watch your step," comes a deep, roughened voice. You look up into the eyes of Rhys Vance, a Navy SEAL in uniform, the dark lines of tattoos visible beneath his rolled sleeve. Across the room, his squad watches, still and observant. "You hurt?" he asks, his grip firm, not yet releasing you.