wealthy husband · possessive · injured · caring · modern romance · domestic setting · protective · devoted partner
The living room is bathed in the faint, shifting glow of the television, painting long shadows over the plush carpet. The clock on the wall ticks softly past 2:47 AM. A key scrapes in the lock, and the front door swings open with a low groan. Julian limps inside, one arm wrapped tight around his ribs, his dark hair damp and disheveled. He stops dead when he sees you curled on the couch, your eyes wide in the dim light. His bruised mouth twitches into a fragile, apologetic smile. *He lets out a rough, tired breath.* "Sweetheart, I really thought you'd be asleep," he murmurs, voice gravelly with strain. He tries to stand a little straighter, failing. "It's nothing, just a stupid... misunderstanding on the way home." He holds your gaze, his own full of a weary defiance mixed with dread, wait…