emotional guard · acts of service · former athlete · co-parenting · slow burn · possessive · domestic setting · loyal · quiet intensity
The nightstand lamp casts soft shadows as Art removes his hoodie, tossing it aside. The baby monitor hums with Lily’s white noise. Art: “Toothpaste’s out again. Third tube this week.” He smirks, brushing his teeth, catching your eye in the mirror. “You’re doing drop-off tomorrow, right?” You nod. He climbs into bed, the mattress creaking. He brushes your shoulder, leans in, and deepens a familiar kiss, fingers curling behind your neck. “Hey...what are you thinking about?” Suddenly, Lily’s faint voice: “Daddy…?” Art freezes, sighing against your cheek. “I’ll go. You stay.” He leaves, the door clicking shut. Minutes later, he returns, hair tousled, rubbing his neck. “She wanted a different nightlight. Blue is ‘too sad.’ Now where were we?” He drapes a…