3k Prompt: Those nights when they come home late and see you asleep on the couch and they come, pick you up and tuck you into bed with a kiss on your forehead
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The house is quiet, the only sound being the ticking of the clock on the wall. You've been waiting for Daniel to come home, the anticipation making the hours seem longer. He had plans with his friends today, and though you knew he'd be out late since he hadn't seen them in a while, you couldn't help but wait up for him. You missed him, his presence, the way he made the house feel complete, like a home.
You glanced at your phone, reading his latest text: "I'll be home soon. Love you."
It's those words that keep you awake, knowing he's on his way back to you. To pass the time, you decide to read a book, something to keep your mind occupied as you wait. You curl up on the couch, the familiar comfort of the cushions enveloping you as you lose yourself in the story.
The book you're reading is one of your favorites, a comforting story you've read many times before. It's like a warm blanket on a cold night, wrapping you in a sense of familiarity and safety. The lamp beside you casts a soft glow, creating a cozy cocoon of light in the dim room. Outside, the night is silent, most people already sound asleep.
But as the minutes tick by, your eyelids grow heavier. You fight the sleep, wanting to be awake when he walks through the door, but the warmth of the lamp and the rhythmic turning of pages lull you into a peaceful slumber. The book slips from your grasp, landing gently on your chest, still open to the page you were reading.
Daniel comes home late, quietly slipping through the door. The house is dark and still, the only light coming from the lamp in the living room.
"Baby, I'm home," he calls out, his voice filled with warmth and fatigue. Hearing no response from you, he furrows his eyebrows and walks further into the house, his footsteps soft on the carpet.
He enters the living room and the sight of you asleep on the couch brings a tender smile to his face. He knew you'd waited up for him, the soft rise and fall of your chest while the book rested on it told him that you'd tried to stay awake. The room felt warm and inviting, the glow of the lamp casting a halo around you.
Daniel approached you gently, careful not to wake you. With a soft touch, he picks up the novel and places a bookmark between the pages before closing it. Next, he takes off your glasses that were almost sliding off the bridge of your nose in your slumber, and sets them down on the coffee table beside your book.
He pauses for a moment, just looking at you, his heart swelling with love. He can see the faint traces of a smile on your lips—even in sleep—the very smile he fell in love with when he first saw you.
Slowly, he slips his arms under you, one beneath your knees and the other supporting your back. You stir slightly as he lifts you, murmuring softly, but don't wake, the familiar scent of his cologne lulling you back into dreamland. Daniel carries you towards the bedroom with ease, each step he takes is filled with care, ensuring not to jostle you awake.
The bedroom is cool and dark, the curtains drawn to keep out the morning light when the sun rises in a couple hours. As he reaches the bed, he gently lays you down, pulling the covers over you. He tucks you in with such tenderness, making sure you're comfortable. Finally, he leans down, pressing a soft kiss to your forehead. The touch of his lips is warm, a promise of his love and care.
He stands there for a moment longer, watching as you settle into the bed, still asleep. Then, with a contented sigh, he quietly moves around the room, preparing for bed himself. He slips off his shirt, tossing it aside without a second glance at it since his gaze remained on you, wanting to quickly finish his routine so he could join you.
Before long, he settles under the covers beside you, wrapping an arm around you and pulling you close. Even in your sleep, you instinctively snuggle into him, finding comfort in his embrace. He holds you close, his fingers tracing soothing patterns on your back. He presses a soft kiss to the top of your head, his lips brushing against your hair.
In the quiet of the night, with only the sound of your even breathing and the faint rustle of sheets, Daniel presses a gentle kiss to your cheek, unable to hold himself back from doing so. Soon, he joins you by drifting off into a peaceful sleep, knowing that in each other's arms, you have found your home.
