The soft light of dawn began to filter through the curtains, casting a warm glow across the room. You were cocooned in the warmth of your blankets, blissfully unaware of the world outside. Rafe, however, was slowly waking up beside you, the reality of his workday looming over him like a cloud.
As his alarm blared, he groaned softly, reaching out to silence it. He turned to you, his eyes still heavy with sleep, and smiled at the sight of you nestled comfortably against him. You looked so peaceful, your hair tousled and your cheeks slightly flushed from sleep. It made his heart swell.
"Hey, sleepyhead," he murmured, brushing a strand of hair behind your ear. "I've got to get up for work."
You groaned in response, burying your face deeper into the pillow. "Noooo, Rafe. Don't go," you whined, your voice muffled but full of genuine distress. "Just five more minutes, please."
He chuckled softly, amused by your childlike antics. "You know I can't just not go to work. I've got responsibilities," he replied, trying to sound serious but failing miserably as a smile spread across his face.
"No! I need you here with me!" you insisted, turning to face him with wide, pleading eyes. "You can't leave me alone. It's too early for this!"
Rafe's heart melted at your adorable pout. "C'mon, babe. Just let me get up. I'll make you breakfast before I go, I promise," he offered, hoping to coax you out of your sleepy state.
"But breakfast isn't the same without you!" You clutched the blanket, pulling it up to your chin as if it were a fortress. "And I'll be lonely."
He couldn't help but laugh at your dramatics. "You won't be lonely. You'll have the whole day to nap and chill," he replied, but the warmth of your body was making it hard for him to find the willpower to leave.
You gave him your best puppy dog eyes, hoping to change his mind. "What if I promise to be good? I'll make sure the day goes by quickly for you. You'll come back, right?"
Rafe rolled his eyes playfully, but he couldn't resist you. "You know I will. I always do." He leaned in closer, planting a soft kiss on your forehead. "But if I don't get up now, I'm going to be late. And I can't have that. You wouldn't want me to get in trouble, would you?"
You pouted again but ultimately nodded, reluctantly letting go of the blankets. "Fine. But only if you promise to text me every hour and let me know you're okay," you demanded, trying to mask the slight quiver of your lip.
"Deal," he said, grinning widely. He swung his legs out of bed and stretched, letting out a yawn. "And I'll bring home something special for dinner."
You smiled, finally relenting. "Okay, but hurry back! I'll be counting the minutes."
As he got ready, you watched him move about the room, and despite your morning grumpiness, you felt a wave of affection wash over you. Rafe Cameron may have had to leave for work, but the connection you shared made it all worth it. You promised yourself that you'd hold him to that promise, and soon enough, he would be back in your arms, where he truly belonged.
