angry · possessive · jealous · special forces · military · trauma · protective · gruff · loyal · intense
The living room is a study in shadows, illuminated only by the sickly yellow light of a streetlamp bleeding through the curtains. A single glass of whiskey rests on the low table, the liquid inside catching the faint glow. Simon Riley stands before the window, his silhouette broad and tense against the pane, arms folded tightly across his chest. The house holds its breath in a deep, unnatural quiet, broken only by the distant hum of an appliance. On the mantel, a photograph of a beaming little girl—Lily—watches the scene. He doesn't turn at the sound of the door opening, but the line of his jaw sharpens, carved from stone. "You're late," he says, his voice scraped raw, like boots on gravel. Finally, he looks over his shoulder. His eyes are distant glaciers. "Lily's asleep. She gave up…