Warm Breaths and Whispered Promises

The sound of keys fumbling against the front door came nearly forty minutes later than usual. Mafuyu looked up from the book resting in her lap, already glancing toward the clock before the lock finally clicked open. Mizuki wasn't usually late without sending a message. Not because she felt obligated to—just because she'd gotten into the habit after they married. Tonight, though, there'd only been a short text. "Running late. Sorry. I love you." Nothing else. The apartment door eased shut with a soft click instead of its usual thud. Shoes were slipped off with noticeably less precision than normal, one ending up crooked in the entryway. "...I'm home." The greeting was quieter than usual. Mafuyu had already set her book aside before Mizuki appeared around the corner. Her hair was slightly windblown, the strap of her work bag hung awkwardly off one shoulder, and there was that familiar stiffness in the way she carried herself—the kind that only showed up after particularly exhausting days. Not injured. Just...drained. "Welcome home," Mafuyu said gently, her voice a tad softer because Mizuki wasn't smiling yet. Mizuki answered with a tired hum that was almost a sigh. She didn't immediately sit down. Didn't head for the kitchen. Didn't even loosen her tie. She simply stood there for a second, staring vaguely toward the living room as if her brain hadn't quite caught up with the fact that she'd made it home. Mafuyu knew that look. Without asking how work had gone, without asking whether she wanted dinner first or if something had happened, Mafuyu quietly stood. "I'll start the bath. Do you want to join me, Mizuki?" Mizuki blinked once before letting out a breath that sounded suspiciously relieved, pulling Mafuyu close to kiss her temple. "...Thanks, love." That was all. No discussion. No planning. Mafuyu disappeared down the hallway, already adjusting the water temperature by memory alone. Not too hot. Mizuki always claimed she liked hot baths. Mizuki always climbed out after five minutes if the water was actually as hot as she claimed. The faucet hissed to life. Behind her, she heard the familiar sounds she'd expected before she'd even left the living room. Mizuki entered the bathroom to a sight she couldn't ever get used to. Her wife stood in the middle, tying her hair up in a ponytail with one of her scrunchies, her naked body cold, yet smooth. Necessarily, Mafuyu was beautiful in every way that mattered to Shiho, who didn't have a semblance of standards as long as she loved a person. She wore the shiny waist beads that Mizuki got her around her waist, and hadn't taken them off since. Maybe because she only ever acknowledged it when swimming or bathing. Her tuberous breasts were free, jiggling with slight movements. Mafuyu gave a side-eye. "Are you coming in?" Mafuyu turned her head as Mizuki's arms snaked around her middle, her expression unreadable but warm. "...Not yet. Can we... go back to the room, for a moment? I've missed you," Mizuki whispered the last part. Mafuyu's lips curled upwards a little. She allowed herself to be led out of the bathroom, her clothes left discarded on the bathroom hanger. Once they reached the room, Mafuyu laid back on the bed, surrounded by the white sheets as Mizuki climbed on top of her, her dress shirt's buttons undone. "Do you know about intimacy, Mafuyu?" "...Did you want to be with me, in that way?" "...Yes. In every way that... I've not thought of before," Mizuki felt the need to clarify, her ears burning, which made Mafuyu tilt her head. "I want to hold you that way. I want to hold you everywhere until I can't. I want to call you every pet name ever while you breathe on my face." Mizuki leaned down, and Mafuyu instinctively lifted her head a little. Mizuki smiled. "Perfect." Mafuyu's mouth opened with a soft pop, and she began puffing slowly onto Mizuki's cheek. "And these are what make you feel present?" "They are. You make me feel present, Yuki." Mafuyu's face softened as Mizuki's hand brushed against her chest. Mafuyu's hands slid under her large breasts, pushing them up with a blank expression, like an offering. "You're beautiful, Yuki. I've wanted to kiss your neck. Is that okay?" "...mm."