He couldn't wait to get home. He had been out of town for only a week, but it had seemed like an eternity away from her. As he climbed into the cab idling at the curb outside the airport, he thought about calling her one last time. After glancing at his watch, he decided against it and settled back for the late night ride through deserted streets.
His flight had been delayed, just one of the hundreds of things he could have done without this week, and he was getting home hours later than he had anticipated. He had left her a message at home before he left, and he began wondering if she had gotten it. She was working late, something she only did when she knew he wouldn't be there.
As the cab pulled up outside of their house, he saw that she had left a light on for him. He smiled, always amazed at how thoughtful she was. He opened the door and crept into the house, the familiarity of it relaxing him. He slipped his shoes off by the door, and decided to turn the light off and go crawl into bed with her.
As he rounded the corner to the living room, he froze when he saw her. She was lying on the couch, stretched out and fast asleep. She was wearing her favorite nightgown, the one he had given her and what she always wore on special nights. She had been waiting up for him and fallen asleep, and once again he was touched by her thoughtfulness.
He sat on the table across from the couch and gazed at her, taking in everything about her. He watched as her chest rose and fell with her steady breathing; how a lock of hair had fallen onto her cheek and fluttered slightly when she exhaled; how the light danced along the curves of her body. He reached forward and gently pushed the hair back behind her ear, wondering what he should do next. He continued watching her until he noticed the goose bumps on her bare arms and legs and knew he had to make a decision.
He considered wrapping her in a blanket and going off to bed, but he decided against it. He had been gone too long, spent too many nights aching just to feel her breath on the back of his neck as they slept. He clicked off the lamp by her head and, as carefully as he could, lifted her into his arms.