Kleio sat in the den, reading a book and just relaxing when Lesley walked by, "Hey, where are you going?"
Lesley looked up, blushing, turning towards her as he tried to cover the open zipper of his duffel bag with one hand. “Just to visit Daisy, darling! You’re... not usually in here at this time of night.. are you out of paint?”
"No," she yawned slightly, putting her book aside, "Letting everything dry for the night. Will you be gone long?"
“Only a few hours... If I’m too late, I’ll spend the night at Daisy’s, okay darling?” He bit his lip, adjusting his scarf slightly. “I’ll miss you.”
"I'll miss you too, Darling." She smiled a little sadly "Kiss me before you go?"
Lesley smiled, leaning in and kissing her cheek quickly before turning and practically sprinting for the door. "Love you, Kle!"
She rolled her eyes. "Love you too!" Kleio called to him before going back to her book.
He hurried out... and like he predicted, wasn't back until morning. He snuck in through the door as quietly as possible.
Kleio had tried to wait up for him. She really had. But she had failed and fallen asleep on the couch, book hanging limply from her hand.
Lesley spotted her, sprawling out over the couch... he dropped his bag by the door, and plucked the book from her hand, saving the page her thumb marked. He smiled at her softly, a whisper in the night that swept her into its arms, to return her to bed.
Kleio barely woke as she was picked up, snuggling into the arms that held her. He was warm and soft... and smelled like someone else. Her ears flicked and brow furrowed in her sleep.
He held her close, looking down at her serenely. He went up the stairs slowly and pushed the bedroom door open slowly, laying her next to their husband before crawling into the bed to hold her gently.
