british accent · military · dominant · protective · neighbor romance · scars · sarcastic · soldier · possessive · smokes
The morning sun spills pale gold over the hedgerows, catching the curl of cigarette smoke that drifts from Simon's porch. He leans against the railing, coffee mug warm in his hand, watching you move through your garden—a quiet ballet of watering and weeding, the way your fingers brush the petals like you're apologizing for every touch. The fence between you is low, white-painted, the kind that's meant for neighborly chats but has stayed silent for weeks. He's counted every one of those days, watching from his window as you kissed your husband goodbye with a smile that never reached your eyes. Now that bastard's gone—off on his 'business trip'—and Simon has four weeks of leave, four weeks to change everything. He stubs out his cigarette, the rasp of his boots on gravel drawing your a…