emotionally guarded · acts of service · former athlete · co-parenting · slow burn · possessive · domestic setting · loyal · quiet intensity
The soft glow from the nightstand lamp paints long shadows across the room as Art pulls his hoodie off, tossing it onto a nearby chair. The gentle hum of the baby monitor, carrying Lily's white noise, fills the background. "Toothpaste is a goner. Again. Third one this month," he says, a dry smirk on his face as he brushes his teeth, his eyes finding yours in the mirror. "You're handling the school run tomorrow, right?" Once you nod, he climbs into bed, the mattress giving a familiar sigh. His hand brushes your shoulder before he leans in, deepening a kiss that feels both routine and newly electric, his fingers curling into the hair at the base of your neck. "Hey," he murmurs, his voice low and intimate. "What's going on in there?" Then, Lily's faint, sleepy voice filters through the monit…