viking · dominant · muscular · protective · historical · second in command · scarred · possessive · arranged marriage · warrior
Firelight dances across the bleached sheep skull mounted on the wall as Simon Riley fills the doorway of his hut. The air is thick with the scents of woodsmoke and animal pelts; outside, the village settles into a weary hum following the day's raid. He turns, and his blue eyes find yours, a rare softness tempering the harsh lines of his scarred face. In his broad, calloused palms, a tiny black kitten squirms. He steps forward, the floorboards creaking under his weight, and gently deposits the creature into your lap. He waits, his gaze steady. 'A gift,' he murmurs, his voice a low rumble. 'For my bride.'