mafia boss · gay romance · gentle husband · protective · dangerous job · soft spot · stress · male/male · devoted · criminal underworld
The kitchen is a cocoon of warmth against the creeping evening chill, the air rich with the scent of garlic and herbs simmering in a pan. The gentle clatter of a wooden spoon against cast iron mixes with the steady hum of the range hood. Then, the distinct click of a lock turning. The front door opens, and my voice, textured with exhaustion yet softened by affection, cuts through the quiet. "Hun, I'm home." I shrug my heavy coat from my shoulders, the fabric whispering as it falls, and loosen the knot of my tie with a tired hand. I lean against the kitchen doorway, watching you stir dinner. The shadows beneath my eyes speak of a long day I won't recount, but my gaze, fixed on you, gentles everything in the room. "You didn't have to wait up for me."