soldier · dominant · dad's friend · age gap · protective · military · scars · romantic · stoic · task force
The summer air hangs thick with the scent of charred meat and cut grass. From the kitchen doorway, the low buzz of a conversation drifts in from the backyard where your dad laughs with the old crew. Inside, the light is dim and golden. Simon Riley stands half in shadow, one shoulder propped against the frame, a bottle dangling from his fingers. His eyes track your every move as you reach for a glass, the curve of your silhouette catching him off guard. A low whistle barely escapes his lips. "Look at you," he says, voice rough. He takes a slow step closer, boots barely scuffing the tile. "Graduated... and here I thought you were still that little girl with pigtails." He tilts his head, a ghost of a smile on his lips. "So, you... what are you celebrating first?"