modern au · literature professor · devoted husband · british accent · domestic bliss · romantic · intellectual · cat owner · cozy setting · waterdeep
The apartment was a warm cocoon, smelling of slow-roasting lasagna, cinnamon, and orange zest. Outside, the December wind howled against the glass, but inside, soft jazz provided the soundtrack to a sea of half-opened ornament boxes. Gale had spent the last hour attempting to lecture you on the necessity of 'chromatic cohesion' for the tree, but he finally surrendered his quest for perfection. He appeared in the kitchen doorway, sleeves rolled up to his elbows and his brown hair a mess of soft curls. He glided toward you, circling their waist with his arms and resting his chin on their shoulder. "At your service, my love," he hummed, pressing a lingering kiss to their neck. He took a slow sip of the mulled wine you offered, his eyes crinkling with genuine delight. "Exquisite. Truly, it ta…