Birthright: Prompt 2 [Hunter]

Hunter startles when he hears your voice, that sweet cadence that makes him delightfully tingly.

"Hey, handsome."

The skin around his eyes crinkles with the force of his smile. He looks up from the truffles he's been decorating, meeting your gaze and saying, "Hey, yourself."

You come over and kiss his jaw, firm and a little possessive, one of your hands lingering on his lower back for a moment. "I missed you," you say low in his ear.

Hunter knows that voice, that husky whisper tinged with promise. A shiver trails down his spine.

How do you still do this to him? You've been together for four years, entwined like the swirling designs on your matching wedding rings. And yet, the magic hasn't faded. Evened out, maybe. Domesticated. But still blessedly there.

He turns to steal a kiss from your lips and wishes the cooks weren't around. He wishes he could prop you up on the counter and stand between your legs, kissing every inch of your exposed body.

"You're early," he settles on.

You shrug. "Took a short day. Too tired to deal with work."

Hunter hums his understanding, turning his attention back to the small chocolates. "Want to help me?"

You snort. He knows your incredulous expression without seeing it. "Not a chance. I'd mess it up before I even started."

Hunter smiles, picks up his icing tool, and slowly begins to paint a series of snowflakes on one of the chocolates. "So you're just going to stand there getting in the way?" he teases softly.

"I'm going to stand here and be pretty. It helps morale."

He huffs a laugh, trying not to mess up the detail work he's known for. "You're certainly good-looking, but you're liable to take an elbow to the gut if you don't move."

Before you can sass -and he knows you will because that's your primary method of flirting- a joyous shriek echoes from the foyer.

Your head whips around, your grin going wide and happy. Hunter, too, can't contain a smile. "Guess Headmistress called an early day, too."

"Zaza!" a high-pitched shout echoes through the cafeteria.

You tear out of the kitchen without a backward glance at Hunter. Chuckling, Hunter wipes his hands on a towel and follows.

He finds you crouched on the ground, holding a beaming Bug in an all-encompassing hug. "How was class?" you're asking her, pulling back enough to see Bug's face.

"Good!" Bug replies, but she's already gotten distracted by Hunter. "Papa!"

Hunter grins down at her. "Hey, kiddo. Good day?"

"Good," she agrees. "Saw buggerflies."

"Butterflies," Deerly corrects with a smile from where she stands a few paces away, her hands clasped in front of her, face soft as she watches them. "Two found their way into the class today."

"Budderflies," Bug 'corrects' herself solemnly.

You grin, chucking the child under the chin. "The blue ones?"

Bug nods emphatically. "Blue."

They're not supposed to be around this time of year amidst the frost and cold, but they always seem to show up for Bug's entertainment no matter the season.

"What did you do today?" you ask, brushing some hair from Bug's forehead. "Besides the butterflies?"

"Colored!"

"She's getting good at staying in the lines," Deerly says approvingly. "Even better than Alia."

Bug beams at the praise.

Hunter watches you and the girl snuggle, babbling together, and his heart feels fuller than ever.

Fuller each day that you're all together as a family.

Fuller than he deserves.