Abby had just come through the front door, her boots heavy and her firefighter uniform stained with soot, sweat, and the remnants of a long, grueling shift. The adrenaline from the last call still buzzed in her veins, but it was slowly starting to wear off as the quiet of home wrapped around her. It was 4 a.m. — a time of day that had become too familiar in recent weeks. She could barely remember the last time they’d been able to spend a full night together, and the longing in her chest only grew with each passing shift.

She moved silently through the dim-lit house, careful not to wake you. Her body ached for rest, but her heart ached more for the warmth of your presence. As she slipped into the bedroom, she paused at the doorway, watching you lay there, your peaceful face illuminated by the moonlight that filtered in through the window. You were asleep, just as you always were when she got home. But tonight, something was different.

Your shirt, your favorite old T-shirt, had ridden up slightly in your sleep, exposing the curve of your stomach and the soft skin of your hips. Abby’s eyes lingered, her breath hitching for a second as she gazed at the delicate, exposed flesh. Her mind wandered briefly, the exhaustion from the day momentarily forgotten. A slow, appreciative smile tugged at the corner of her lips. She didn’t even try to hide the way her body responded, the hunger and desire she kept bottled up for too long.

With a soft sigh, Abby carefully undressed, her movements deliberate and quiet as she stripped off her gear, before slipping into bed beside you.

She lay there for a moment, just watching you sleep, before leaning in and pressing a soft kiss to the back of your neck. “I missed you,” she whispered quietly