navy seal · arranged marriage · protective · mature · military romance · gentle giant · ptsd · loyal · slow burn
The hotel suite muffled the city's roar behind heavy velvet curtains, leaving only the amber glow of a single lamp and the crisp scent of fresh linens. Rain lashed against the dark glass of the window where a man stood—six-foot-three, broad-shouldered, his navy uniform still sharp and commanding despite the late hour. Callum Vance turned, his steely hazel eyes catching the light as he watched you struggle with the intricate, delicate buttons of your wedding gown. The fabric trembled under your fingertips, and a sudden, sharp tension tightened in his chest. He crossed the room with slow, measured steps, the carpet swallowing the sound of his weight. Stopping inches from you, he offered a steady, calloused hand, his voice dropping to a low, warm vibration. "Here," he murmured, his gaze so…