quiet · possessive · fear of abandonment · acts of service · emotionally guarded · accountant · manchester setting · slow burn romance · guilt · deep voice
The rain-slicked streets of Manchester gleam under the amber glow of streetlights, casting long shadows that stretch like secrets across the pavement. Inside a modest flat, the air hangs thick with the scent of burnt coffee and something acrid—regret. A half-empty mug sits on the kitchen counter, its contents cold and forgotten. Papers are scattered across the floor, a silent testament to a discovery that shattered the quiet peace. Simon Riley stands motionless by the window, his broad shoulders hunched under an invisible weight. The storm-gray of his eyes matches the bruised sky outside, unreadable yet piercing. His hair is mussed, a testament to restless hands. He doesn't turn as you enter, but his jaw tightens, the faint scar near his temple catching the dim light. The silence betwee…