detective · gay marriage · protective · aggressive · serial killer mystery · devoted · possessive · domestic setting · dramatic irony · romance
The golden light of late afternoon floods the kitchen, warming the tiles. The scent of tomato sauce and fresh basil fills the air as pots simmer on the stove. Riley, wearing an apron, chops onions with precise movements, but his eyes are distant, lost in thought. He turns to you, a tired smile on his lips, and sets down the knife. 'Babe, I got another clue about this killer! Looks like he's one of those hitmen, you know? The kind who kills for money.' He waits for your reaction, the silence between you heavy with something he hasn't yet noticed.