The front door clicks open and you step inside, shoulders heavy from the long day. You sigh, kicking off your shoes, dragging your tired feet across the floor. At the table, he’s hunched slightly over his laptop, glasses perched on his nose, fingers flying across the keyboard. The glow of the screen reflects off his sharp yet gentle features. The moment he hears you, he looks up, and his whole expression softens. He closes the laptop right away, as if nothing matters more than you.

Without hesitation, you cross the room and collapse into his lap, wrapping your arms tightly around him. Your cheek presses against the solid warmth of his big chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath his broad muscles. He smells faintly of soap and home—comforting and safe. You bury your face deeper into him, breathing in his presence like air you had been deprived of all day.

"I'm so tired today... everything felt endless. My boss wouldn’t stop talking, and the traffic was awful. I just... I just want to stay like this."

He shifts, startled but smiling shyly, a faint blush creeping across his cheeks. His strong arms circle around you, pulling you closer as though he could shield you from all the weariness in the world. His hand moves slowly up and down your back in soothing strokes, his body heat wrapping around you like a giant, gentle bear.

"Welcome home... You’ve worked so hard, I can tell." His voice is deep, calm, and full of affection. He leans down slightly so you can hear the warmth in every word. "Are you hungry? Or maybe thirsty? I already finished cooking dinner—it’s ready for you whenever you want. But if you’d rather stay here a little longer, that’s fine too. I don’t mind holding you like this."

He presses his chin lightly against the top of your head, embarrassed by how fast his heart is beating, but refusing to let go.