It's been awhile...

Hopefully

"Good morning." Ryan kissed Stevie on the cheek, before taking his seat at the table, knowing that breakfast would be served shortly. He reached for a cup of coffee that had already been placed in front of him, also opening the newspaper. "What was up with you last night?"

"Nothing." Stevie answered, shrugging. "I just wasn't enjoying myself."

"You had disappeared at one point as well."

"I hadn't disappeared, I was outside."

"Right, and once you returned, you left again, claiming to be tired."

"Just say what it is you want to say, Ryan." She sighed, giving him a full plate, without taking one for herself, as she had suddenly lost her appetite. 

"I don't want to say anything, I'm just asking, because you were acting weird. It was an important night for me, you're my wife, you're supposed to support me."

"And I did. I said all the right things and I smiled for every picture."

"That's true, but was it that hard for you to stay until the night ended? Jane stayed by Lindsey's side."

"Well, then I guess she's a better wife than I am. I think you forgot she doesn't have a four year old to take care of."

"Samantha was paid good money to stay with Liam for as long as needed."

Closing her eyes, Stevie took a deep breath. She'd gotten so tired of the way Ryan was treating her recently. Ever since he started suspecting something, he had stopped treating her as his wife, as an equal in their marriage, as the mother of his children. He only ever told her what to do and what not to lately. She would have stood up for herself under different circumstances, but she was afraid the truth would come out, so she turned into an obedient housewife. She couldn't say she didn't love him anymore, but the love itself had changed.

"It won't happen again." She just said, turning to leave the kitchen. 

"Stevie?"

"Yeah?" She stopped in the doorway.

"You're going to have to bring Maria home, I will be busy until late probably."

"Fine." She gave a small nod and left him by himself.

Maria called around four in the afternoon, saying she'd like to come home, as she had some homework left to do and she didn't want to stay up late, having to finish it. After ending the conversation, Stevie hung up and made her way upstairs to wake up Liam from his nap. She wasn't going to call Sam for an hour or so.

"Hey, sweetheart." Stevie smiled at her boy, running a hand through his wavy dark hair. "Wake up, baby. We've got to go, bring your big sis home."

Liam lazily opened his eyes, still heavy with sleep, gripping Stevie's wrists with his tiny hand, before planting kisses all over her delicate hand. She chuckled lightly, bending over to place a kiss on his forehead, before pulling the covers off him.

"Come on, let's get you dressed."

About fifteen minutes later, Liam was seated in his car seat, as Stevie sat down behind the wheel. She watched her son through the rear view mirror for a moment, as he happily kicked his legs, singing to himself. 

Only moments away from arriving at the Buckingham's Stevie thought of whether Lindsey would be busy working on something with Ryan and she'd be greeted by Jane or it would be Lindsey himself. She really didn't want to deal with him.

Turning the engine of the car off, Stevie climbed out, then walked around to the other side to free Liam, as he reached and wrapped his arms around her neck to be picked up. While Liam was an active four year old boy, who loved kicking the ball in the backyard with his father, he was still very much a Mamma's boy and Stevie absolutely loved it. 

She had only closed the car door, when Lindsey came into her view, waiting for her on the porch. Taking a deep breath, she approached him, balancing Liam on her hip. "Hi."

"Hi." Lindsey echoed. "And hello to you, too, little man." He greeted Liam, who smiled back shyly. "Why don't you come inside?" He showed with his hand, letting Stevie walk in first. She let go of Liam who ran into his sister's open arms.

"Hey!" She beamed, kissing his chubby cheek. "Hi, Mom!" Maria greeted Stevie as well. "Can you wait a bit? Ella and I are finishing this thing for school. It won't take long."

"Sure, honey." Stevie nodded with a smile and just like that, she was left alone with Lindsey.

Once the kids were out of sight, Lindsey took a step closer, placing his hands on her hips. Needless to say, Stevie pulled away. "I just wanted to say how beautiful you look."

"You could have done that without touching me. Though, you shouldn't even be telling me that. I'm sure you wouldn't want your wife walking in on that."

"She's not home." Lindsey said. "Can I offer you anything?" Giving in, Stevie asked for a glass of water. "I want you to meet me at our usual place tomorrow night, 9 pm."

"Lindsey." She warned.

"You know you want to."

"No, I don't." Her voice, though, betrayed her. "What I want is for you to stop and let it go."

"I can't, not after being reassured of your feelings towards me." 

"How did I do that?"

"You did that, when you kissed me back the way you did and started crying."

Swallowing uneasily, Stevie took a sip of the water, leaning against the kitchen island. "What if I don't come?" 

"But you will, we both know that you will." He sounded so sure of himself, staring her straight in the eyes. She was doing rather well, maintaining the eye contact at first, but she looked away, once he stepped up to her, placing the palms of his hands on the marble top on both sides of her, her breathing quickened. "Your heart picked up pace. I wonder why..." He leaned in closer, pressing light kisses on her neck as she cocked her head back, unable to resist. He nibbled softly, fighting himself against leaving a mark. Moving down her neck, he kissed his way to her cleavage, bringing a hand up to tease her hardened peak through the material of her blouse as well as her bra. He was driving her crazy, she had completely forgotten about her surroundings, allowing him to undo a couple of the buttons on her blouse, as he then squeezed both of her breasts together, using his tongue to leave a wet path all over them. "I could take you by now, couldn't I?" He whispered into her ear, nipping gently. She didn't reject him, as he pressed their lips together, kissing him hungrily. One of his hands wandered lower, pressing against her center through her clothes, as she moaned into his mouth. He wasn't that reckless, working fast, bringing her to a climax in no time, letting her bite hard into his lap, so she wouldn't cry out.

Lindsey separated them, moving to stand across the kitchen, as if nothing had happened, while Stevie was absolutely frustrated with herself that she let this happen, downing that glass of water in a couple of big gulps. 

Only a few minutes later, they heard footsteps, their children coming downstairs. "We can go, Mom." Maria said. "Mom?"

"In here, sweetheart." Stevie managed. "You've got everything?"

"Yeah, didn't have much." Maria shrugged, taking her brother by the hand. "See you tomorrow, Ella."

"You, too!" The two girls hugged. 

"Goodbye, Stevie. Hopefully, we'll see each other soon." Lindsey said, a hint of a smile on his lips. 

She only mumbled something in response, saying goodbye to Ella, before rushing her children to the car. She sped off out of the driveway without a look back, knowing Lindsey was still there. Stevie took her sunglasses off the top of her head and placed them on the bridge of her nose. She couldn't help the tears.