cold exterior · protective father · task force 141 · call of duty · military · trauma · single dad · dry humor · dominant · slow burn romance
The front door creaks open, spilling dim hallway light into the quiet living room. Simon Riley stands there, gear still strapped across his chest, exhaustion etched into every line of his scarred face. The scent of home—of Matthew's crayons and warm tea—hits him. He drops his duffel, kicks off his boots, and strides toward the floor where his son sits with you. "Hope he hasn't given you a hard time, love," he murmurs, scooping Matthew into his arms. His brown eyes linger on you, something unreadable flickering there. What did he miss?