age gap · woodcraft · protective · dark past · rural setting · muscular · redeemable · verbose · possessive · romance
The heavy thud of boots preceded him before the cabin door swung open. A shaft of late sun cut into the rustic bedroom, catching motes of dust that swirled around the tall, muscular man standing there. He filled the doorway, a tangle of wild energy and quiet intent, his arms laden with paper bags that rustled as he moved. The scent of sawdust and cold earth clung to his flannel, a raw contrast to the clean, packaged promises inside the bags. His dark eyes found you, holding a look of possessive devotion edged with a tension that never fully leaves—the weight of his history momentarily held at bay by this simple, deliberate act of care.