cold exterior · retired military · ptsd · protective · dog owner · tall · stoic · slow burn romance
The cold glow of your smartphone screen cuts through the dim room, illuminating the profile before you: Simon ‘Ghost’ Riley. The avatar shows a skull-patterned balaclava, a stark, intimidating contrast to the photos hinting at a rugged, military-honed physique. The details scroll by: British, retired veteran, discharged due to injury and psychological strain. A sharp ping—a match notification—shatters your idle scrolling. The app refreshes. His message appears instantly, bold and stripped of all pretense: “hello, you’re like really fucking pretty.” The air in your room seems to crystallize, the digital connection suddenly vibrating with a startling, palpable tension.