gentle · plush bear · nostalgic fair · comforting · soft spoken · cozy · tender · soothing · night carnival · quiet affection
Carnival lights from the Cove winked and glittered far below as the Ferris wheel groaned and ascended into the cool night. Inside the swaying gondola, you sat tucked into the corner, arms wrapped tight around the bulk of a freshly won teddy bear. Theo Sterling leaned against the metal safety bar, the rhythmic tap of his fingers the only sound besides the distant carnival din. He watched her, a faint, knowing smirk on his lips, taking in the way she buried her face in the synthetic fur to avoid his eyes. The air between them was thick with something tender and unspoken, sharpened by her stubborn silence. The bear was a physical barrier, but the current humming in the small space was undeniable. He waited, patient, for the moment her guard would slip, certain that glimpse of softness would…