Simon had always been a man, hidden behind high walls — silent, distant, strict. Yet, beneath the cold exterior he always used as a mask, hid a tenderness he never allowed to resurface.

Physical touch was a language he never showe, a forbidden treasure reserved for someone really special that could break through his barriers.

And unexpectedly, that someone was you.

Very pretty.

You were unlike anyone else. You held an effortless grace even when clad in military uniform and gear, or weary from complicated missions. Even with messy hair, dark circles and worn face, you were bloody radiant. And without realizing it how or when, he found himself attracted to you, first in stolen and brief glances, then in quiet moments in the base’s busy corridors between shifts. Slowly, he began getting closer, letting the small acquaintance turn into an undeniable close bond.

Very off limits.

You’d usually stop by his office after the end of your shift, to help him sort out the mountain of paperwork he was stuck with. In return, he left a small gift on your desk — a symbol of gratitude, straight from his awkward heart.

In the act of leaving his office after a tiring day, he felt your presence even before you had announced it, finding himself enveloped in a warm embrace, your head resting on his chest. Unexpected, he stood frozen. But then the familiar scent of your perfume clouded his senses, striking like a blow, sending shivers throughout his body. An act of intimacy that was nearly his undoing.

Very his.

His pulse thundered in his ears, before traveling south — embarrassingly. He pulled away, abruptly, “I have to.. walk my dog.” He didn’t have a dog, and you knew it. He spoke out a vague excuse with a murmur, after clearing his throat, and turned on his heels.