Not Tonight

Wide eyes peered curiously and confused at her husband as she sat half naked in their bed. Stephanie didn't quite understand what was wrong; this was the first night they'd had alone in quite awhile. Usually Paul was all over her when they had time like this together. Instead though he was sitting on the edge of their bed, looking rather tense.

Stephanie crawled across the bed, wrapping her arms around him from behind. She pressed a kiss to the back of his shoulder before shifting so she was kneeling beside him properly. She looked over him slowly, trying to see what was wrong as she rubbed a hand up and down his back.

"Everything okay baby?" she asked softly, hoping he'd actually turn to look at her.

"Yeah, I'm fine Steph, just tired," he told her gruffly, a hand rubbing over his face. "Maybe another night?" he suggested, cringing even as he said the words.

"Another night?" Stephanie echoed incredulously, eyes wide as she looked at him in surprise. Paul turning her down was a rare occasion, one she could count on one hand in fact. The only times it'd ever really happened was if he was injured and even then it was more a case of he physically couldn't, not that he didn't want too.

"Yeah. I'm sorry baby," he murmured, standing up from their bed. "I'm gonna go shower," he told her, heading for their bathroom.

Stephanie continued to sit, half naked on their bed in confusion. She was in nothing but Goddamn panties, they'd been getting all hot and heavy and then nothing. He pulled away, claimed he was too tired and that was it. There had to be more to it then that; tiredness had never stopped him before and suddenly Stephanie started to feel slightly self-conscious.

Sighing, she ran a hand through her hair as she climbed off their bed. She could hear the shower starting to run as she walked towards her dresser, pulling out her pajamas. Pulling on the sleep shorts and t-shirt, she couldn't help but start to feel embarrassed at the way she'd thrown herself at him. It wasn't often she felt embarrassed by things like that but as she climbed back into bed, she couldn't help but feel it.

"Paul wouldn't have sex with me last night."

Stephanie hadn't meant to blurt it out to her mother over lunch but she'd been thinking about it non-stop all day. Her face flushed in embarrassment as she realized what she'd said; her mother seemed to take it in her stride however, which she was slightly grateful for.

"I'm sorry," she shook her head, "It's just he's never turned me down before. Not unless he was really hurt or something," Stephanie explained with a shrug. "It's just unusual."

Linda chuckled a little at her daughter before replying. "I'm not completely comfortable talking about your sex life sweetie. Or lack of one it seems," she chuckled once again. The scolding look she received from her daughter almost made her laugh harder but she contained herself. "But he is getting older sweetie, maybe he really was just tired? He is going to be 46 this year. Plus he's got a lot more on his plate now then he did five years ago and you've got three children. Maybe he really did just want to sleep. These things happen, you shouldn't think too much on it," Linda told her with a shrug and a pat to her hand.

Stephanie sighed, sipping at her drink. What her mother was saying did make sense and she supposed it could be true. She just hoped it didn't have anything to do with her either. The selfish part of her also hoped he wasn't feeling too tired all the time either because she wasn't liking how it feels to be uncomfortably horny.

AN: Not even sure what this is...well I do but yeah. I'm trying to get over writer's block and depression and I'm using this piece to help me get back in the flow of things. So review if you'd like.

I hope you enjoyed. :) LT.