Do you need me to stop and get anything from the store on the way home?" she barked into the phone.

"Maddie, honey is everything ok? You sound angry or stressed."

"It's Angela. Every time she needs to get her hair done, or pick up her kids from soccer, she pawns off her assignment to me. She had a report due at 5pm today, and waited until 4:30 to assign it to me, then got pissed when I didn't have it done in time. I am really angry at her."

"I understand, that is totally unfair. No, we don't need anything. Come on home and I'll make that Chicken Piccata you like with extra lemon and capers over capellini. I will have a chilled bottle of Castelli di Jesi Verdicchio you love waiting for you."

"Ooh, you know I love Italian.�

"Men or food? I can satisfy the latter, but not the former."

"Italian food; I love you Paul just as you are, the pound puppy from heaven."

She opened the front door and placed her keys on the foyer table as she glanced at the pile of mail. Looking up, she expected to see her daughter come running up for a hug, and the sounds of the end of the busy day permeating the house. Instead, there was an eerie quiet. There were no lights on, but a single candle, lit and flickering on the floor at the end of the entrance hall. Placing her purse on the floor, next the table, and hanging her coat up in the closet, she padded towards the candle.

As she reached the crossing hallway, she spied another candle off to her left. She walked towards it and saw the bathroom door ajar, with a flickering light emanating from behind it. Still there were no sounds, no smells of cooking either. It was kind of spooky, but also intriguing.

As she approached the door, it swung open, and a waft of steam rolled out from the door jamb. The smell of jasmine and lavender permeated the air and she saw Paul in shorts and a tight muscle shirt standing next to a steaming soaking tub, with a towel over his arm, and a glass of wine on a tray. Not a swanky silver one, but a plastic tray with teddy bear stickers all over it; still it was quite a sight. "Uhm, where are the kids?" she asked. "I took Clarice to your sister�s for a sleep over with Sarah." Paul said. The cousins were less than a year apart and loved each other like sisters. "I put Teddy down, right after you called."

Paul handed Madelyn the glass of wine, and standing behind her began to unzip her skirt. Then he pulled her blouse over her head, being careful to wait for Madelyn to shift the wine to her other hand. He unclasped her bra and pulled down her panties, then guided her over the rim of the tub and settled her into the steaming water. The soaking tub had a recirculating heater, so it never got cold. The water was fragrant and soothing.

Paul picked up a brush and began to brush Madelyn's hair, stroking long and slow, taking care not to pull any tangles. When he was finished, Madelyn lay back on the pillow Paul had placed for her neck, and he began to rub her shoulders. Using a soft bath sponge, he dipped into the water and spilling the warm liquid across her skin, he gently rubbed her back and neck. As he moved the sponge across her shoulders, he slid it under the surface of the water towards her breasts. A single drop of milk ushered from her left nipple and clouded the water.

"Did you pump at work today?" Paul asked. Madelyn sighed, then said "No, I didn�t have time. I expected to come home and nurse Teddy while you were finishing dinner." Reaching both hands around her shoulders, resting her head upon his chest, Paul caressed her under her breasts and gently rubbed her belly before returning back to her shoulders. Leaning down, he gently nibbled at her neck and ears as he continued to gently rub her body.

"Well Teddy is asleep, and dinner is almost fully made, I just need to finish the pasta and dress the salad. You already have your wine" Paul said. "Why don't you lounge here in bath and I will go finish up."

"I have a better idea" said Madelyn. "Why don't you join me and I'll be your dinner."

"What will you eat then?" With a wry smile on her lips, she said "I'll think of something"