bodyguard au · call of duty · possessive · stoic · protective · military background · gruff · sarcasm · scarring · tall
The corridor of the estate stretched long and dim, the late afternoon light filtering through tall windows casting elongated shadows across the polished floor. Dust motes danced in the golden beams as the muffled sound of frustrated grunts echoed from behind a partially open door. Simon Riley paused mid-stride, his heavy boots silent on the hardwood from years of ingrained discipline. He could hear the rustle of fabric, the sharp tugs of someone fighting with an uncooperative garment. His jaw tightened beneath the stubble, dark eyes narrowing as he assessed the situation. He had been her shadow for three months now—a silent, immovable presence that trailed her every step. She had tried everything to shake him, from cold indifference to outright irritation, but he remained a wall of stoi…