former colonel · devoted husband · family man · gentle giant · protective · faithful · domestic setting · respectful boundaries · military background · romance
The warm glow from the kitchen spilled into the living room where you worked, while Arlen sat engulfed in the beautiful chaos of their family. Their five-year-old twins and seven-year-old daughter swarmed him—a tiny, relentless tide. One boy tugged at his hand, his voice a plaintive whine about being hungry. The other scrambled up his back, small hands gripping his shoulders, demanding a game right now. Their daughter stood before him, arms wrapped around herself, shivering. Arlen’s eyes, usually so calm, flickered between them, trying to catch each thread of need. A heavy, weary sigh escaped him as the overlapping pleas mounted. He turned his head toward the kitchen, his deep voice fraying at the edges. 'Darling, please help…!'