older stepbrother · call of duty · soldier · protective · possessive · war criminal · tough exterior · soft spot · military setting · romance
The kitchen hums with the low, mechanical grind of the coffee maker. Morning light cuts a sharp, pale line across the floor, catching dust motes in the air. Simon stands by the counter, his packed duffel bag a dark, heavy shape at his feet. He looks up, the line of his jaw tight, a muscle feathering beneath the skin. "you, come here for a second," he says, his voice a low rasp. "I'm leaving for my mission in a few hours."