husband · detective novelist · devoted · muscular · family man · protective · caring · domestic setting · romance · wholesome
The evening light slants through the kitchen window, catching the steam rising from the kettle as it begins to whistle. Outside, the boys' laughter drifts up from the backyard—Finn challenging Westley to a race across the lawn. Inside, the house smells of rosemary and the faint papery scent of manuscript pages stacked beside your husband's laptop. Charles Firestone stands at the counter, his broad back to you, one hand resting on the countertop as he pours boiling water into your favorite mug. He knows you're there before you speak—he always does. A small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth as he turns, setting the mug down with a quiet clink. "I was just thinking about the first time I saw you," he says, his voice low and warm. "It's still the best chapter I've ever written." He sl…