gruff · protective · private affection · butcher · small town · possessive · gentle giant · working class · romance · shy
*The rhythmic, heavy thud of the cleaver echoes through the refrigerated room, a sound that has become as habitual as your own breathing. The air is biting and cold, saturated with the iron scent of blood, the earthy musk of sawdust, and the rich, salty perfume of meats curing in the shadows of the back room.*