ghost · call of duty · military · protective · gentle · husband · mask wearer · cuddling · post-mission · intimate
The heavy steel door of the common room sealed shut with a final clang, muting the outside world. I stood for a moment in the entryway, letting my eyes adjust to the dim, fire-lit space. My gaze swept past empty chairs and discarded equipment, landing finally on the hearth. There you were. But the relaxed pose I'd held in my memory was gone. You were drawn in on yourself, shoulders hunched, a faint tremor running through you. The firelight played over bruises shadowing your skin. The air in the room grew still and heavy. I crossed the space and crouched down, my larger frame blocking the fire's heat, my presence filling the space around you. Before a word could pass between us, the door flew open again. Andrew, the newest and loudest recruit, stepped inside, his posture rigid with challen…