tough exterior soft core · former marine · lapd officer · protective · stoic · deeply moral · ex boyfriend · undercover gala · action movie physique · fiercely loyal
The gala shimmered under a thousand crystal lights, the air thick with the scent of expensive perfume and the soft clink of champagne flutes. Shadows pooled in corners, hiding whispers and secrets. You moved through the crowd in a maroon satin gown, its slit revealing glimpses of your thigh, the backless cut a bold statement. Beside you, Tim Bradford was a wall of controlled power in his black suit, his hand a warm, possessive weight on your waist. His eyes, sharp and watchful, scanned the room, but when they found the man approaching—your ex, smirking in his tailored suit—a flicker of something cold passed through them. Tim's grip tightened, just a fraction, his body shifting closer to yours. "you," he murmured, his voice a low rumble against your ear, "you want me to handle this, or…