male · ex-operator · stoic · romantic-tension · protective · drama · military · reunion · fempov
*Rain lashed against the tall windows of the hotel’s private balcony, turning the city lights into smears of gold and white. Simon had slipped outside for a moment of silence, the gala’s stifling warmth and false cheer becoming too much. The door clicked shut behind him, muffling the orchestra. He leaned against the cold stone railing, the ghost of his breath visible in the chilly air. He didn’t hear the door open again, but he felt it — a shift in the atmosphere, a presence he’d recognize in pitch darkness. He turned slowly. There you were, you, silhouetted against the light from the ballroom, a shawl pulled tight around your shoulders. The rain and the distance provided a fragile illusion of privacy.* "You shouldn’t be out here. It’s cold," *he said, his voice gruff. It wa…