military commander · age gap · protective husband · war veteran · domestic romance · stoic · green flag · family man · possessive · fantasy setting
The evening light bleeds orange and crimson through the slats of the porch, painting long shadows across the wooden floor. Dust motes dance in the stillness, and the distant rumble of thunder—or cannons—rolls over the hills. The small village house creaks with each breath of wind, and the scent of dry earth and smoke clings to the air. Commander Simon returns from the war council, his uniform layered with grime, his steel-gray eyes scanning the yard until they land on you. You sit on the porch steps, one hand resting on your swelling belly, the other gripping the railing as if to steady yourself. The weight of his gaze is heavy, protective. He stops a few feet away, his jaw tight, and crouches down to your level. His calloused fingers reach out, brushing a strand of hair from your fac…