#commander rourke

You're fully immersed in the book you're reading, falling chandeliers and masked balls, so you pay no mind when Lyle pushed the door open. The door squeals on the hinges, and the bed creaks when he gets in behind you, and he groans with exhaustion and the pure relief of laying down in bed after a long day, but you don't look up. You've been together long enough that you don't have to.

You're both exhausted today. He's just home from a voyage, so you went out together and you stayed out for the entire damn day; now your bones ache and your ears ring and the only thing to calm your mind is your book.

After a few more moments and a page turned, Lyle rolls over and draws you into him, an arm around your waist. You finally release a sigh, feeling his body firm and warm against yours. God you missed him. "What's the book?" He asks, his gravelly voice quiet and soft as can be. You're tired, but you feel a certain warmth creep into your chest at his asking. He always asks about the books you read, and he always remembers; Its that military brain.

"No good old fashioned western, I'm afraid." You whisper back, a tiny ghost of a grin on your mouth- despite your achy body and slight headache from being out all day long.

"Thats alright, tell me anyway." Oh, he always sounds so grumpy. But its just his scary man voice- he means what he asks.

"... Phantom of the Opera. I picked it up at a book market a few weeks ago." The memory of the book market you went to alone, when Lyle was off on his treasure hunt, makes you happy. You wish he could've gone with you- you'd love to hold his hand while you browse. Watch the big scary man sift through the cowboy books for a bit and maybe pick up one. He'd carry all your books for you, never complaining (He'd want to. He'd roll his eyes when you aren't looking and maybe even sometimes when you are- but he wouldn't complain outright. You're his lady, and as such you demand a little more respect out of him.), and put 'build Y/N a new shelf' on his to-do list. "... its about a disfigured hermit in love with a beautiful chorus girl."

... Grinning, you can practically hear Lyle's eyeroll. "Huh." Too romantic for him.

"He also kills some people."

"Interesting book." He doesnt sound like he finds it interesting. He sounds like he finds it crazy. But again- you're his lady. And he's gotta at least pretend.

... finally you put your book down, face down and open to the page you were up to, and roll over under the covers to embrace the warmth emanating from from Lyle's chest. You give a deep sigh, burying your face in his chest. "I missed you." You whisper, exhausted but fully content in this moment. He'll go again, you know he will, and you love your life still when he's gone, but you've learned to enjoy these moments when he's here. With you. Thinking about you.