The Phone Call
Kendra's fingers trembled with anxious energy as she pressed her phone to her ear. The sun was low and in her eyes, draining her further of her energy. She had stayed late at work, and the parking lot where she sat was nearly empty. As the line rang, each tone felt heavy with the weight of her day's exhaustion. Finally, a warm click and a familiar voice: "Hello, princess." Her father's timbre was laced with concern even before she spoke. Kendra exhaled a breath she didn't realize she was holding, her chest easing with relief at the sound of Him.
"Hi, Daddy," she replied softly, her voice betraying just how drained she was. She tried to muster some cheer, but she struggled a bit. He could immediately sense something was off in her voice, like a delicate chime sounding a wrong note. "What's wrong, babygirl?" he asked gently, worry threading through each syllable. Kendra swallowed, one hand gripping the steering wheel as if it could anchor her. "I'm okay... just tired. I just-- I want to come home to my dad," she admitted, her tone small and longing. In the silence that followed, she could picture the creases forming on his forehead, the way his protective instincts must be flaring.
"Drive safe and come home, my beautiful daughter," he murmured tenderly after a moment. "I'll be here. And when you get home," he promised, "you won't have to worry about a thing. I'll take care of you. I'll take care of everything." His voice was a soothing caress over the phone, wrapping around her like a warm blanket. A shaky smile found its way to Kendra's lips as relief and gratitude welled in her chest. "Thank you... I love you," she whispered. "I love you too. You are my heart" he answered, steady and sure. Even over the phone, the devotion in his voice was palpable. As the call ended, Kendra felt the first true calm she'd experienced all day. Her Daddy was waiting, and that knowledge alone eased the ache of her weariness.
Her father had been her refuge for so long. Kendra's parents split up not long after she went to college, and her dad ended up changing his entire life, and getting a new job several states in the same town where Kendra went to school, so he could be closer to her. By her junior year, it honestly made more financial sense for her to move back in with her father. Soon after she moved in, she became intoxicated by the way he was always there for her, treated her like a princess, and left her beyond measure. It wasn't long after that they fell deeply in love, and for her college graduation, her father had purchased her a beautiful diamond ring, and they got married shortly thereafter.
It's been over five years, and she couldn't imagine leading a happier life with any other man.
Homecoming
The drive home blurred past in a haze of anticipation. As she stepped onto the porch, the door opened before she could reach for the knob, revealing her husband -- her Daddy -- framed in the warm light spilling out from inside.
He had clearly been watching for her arrival, worry and love etched across his handsome face. In that moment, seeing him standing there, everything else fell away. "Welcome home, My Beloved," he said, voice low and rich with relief. Kendra barely managed a whispered "Daddy..." before he swept her into his arms. Their bodies collided in a fierce, tender embrace. She melted against his chest, breathing him in -- the scent of cologne and soap and the unmistakable essence of home. He held her tight as if to reassure himself she was really there, safe in his embrace at last.
Inside, the house was exactly as she imagined: soft candlelight dancing on the walls, a gentle lullaby of music playing from the stereo, and the air carrying a faint hint of her favorite scent. He had prepared all of this for her. The realization made her emotional even as she smiled. "You did all this... for me?" she breathed against his shoulder. He pulled back just enough to cup her face in his large hands. "Of course I did," he murmured, his brown eyes searching hers. "I've got you. You're home now, and I've got you." The words, coupled with the earnest heat in his gaze, sent a surge of warmth through her.
He kissed her then -- a deep, hungry kiss that stole what little breath she had left. It was the kind of kiss that made her toes curl and time stop. Kendra answered with equal fervor, pouring all her pent-up longing and love into it. His hands began to roam gently over her back and hips, reacquainting themselves with every curve as if he hadn't held her just that morning. She whimpered softly into his mouth, her exhaustion alchemizing into need under the slow stroke of his tongue and the insistent press of his body against hers. When they finally parted, both were breathing hard. In her eyes, he saw the stress of the day already giving way to desire and trust. In his eyes, she saw only adoration and the promise that he was going to take care of his girl, just as he'd vowed.
Worship