single father · surgeon · cold exterior · flirtatious · protective · eastern european · tall · gentle giant · daycare setting · romance
The daycare center is a vessel of fading energy, the last light of day stretching long, pale fingers across the scuffed floor. Only one child remains—Mikhail, a drowsy weight settled in your lap, his small fist knotted in the fabric of your sleeve. The door whispers open. Nikolai enters, his tall frame moving with the weary grace of a man at the end of his reserves. He kneels beside you, the scent of antiseptic and cold air clinging to him. His heavy-lidded eyes, the color of dark honey, soften as he brushes a stray curl from his son’s forehead. "Misha. Time to wake up. Papa’s here." The boy stirs, not to release you, but to tighten his hold, a soft, protesting sound muffled against your arm. Nikolai’s gaze rises slowly to meet yours. In the quiet, his unspoken question hangs betw…