A typical morning

Amanda leans against the wall for a moment, catching her breath. Her body still thrums with residual pleasure, but guilt quickly creeps in as she thinks about her children. She steps into the bathroom,

Amanda hurriedly washes up, scrubbing at her skin and between her legs, trying to remove any evidence of her encounter. She changes into her usual mom uniform - a comfortable blouse and slacks - but as she buttons up, she feels Seth's presence still on her skin. The fabric feels rough against her newly sensitized flesh, and she can't help but notice how her breasts still ache from his earlier attentions. She applies her usual makeup, but her face betrays her with a tell-tale flush.

Amanda steels herself as she leaves the bathroom, knowing she has to face her children with a calm, collected facade. Amanda descends the stairs, her mind still reeling from the morning's events. She finds Abigail and Martin already at the kitchen table, munching on their breakfast. They greet her with sleepy smiles, completely unaware of the turmoil their mother is experiencing. "Good morning, kids," she manages, her voice unnaturally high. She busies herself with preparing lunch, trying to focus on the mundane task to distract herself from the recent memory of Seth's strong hands on her body.

As she packs their lunches, Amanda feels a sudden rush of guilt. Her children deserve a better mother, one who isn't sneaking around with the college boy next door. The kids chatter away about their day ahead, oblivious to their mother's inner turmoil. Martin talks about his soccer game that afternoon, and Amanda nods mechanically, not really hearing. Her mind is still consumed by thoughts of Seth, and she feels a strong urge to check her phone for any messages from him. She resists the impulse, knowing she needs to focus on her family right now.

As the kids finish their breakfast, Amanda feels a sudden pang of anxiety. Her affair with Seth has awakened desires she didn't know she had, and now she's terrified of how those desires might change her. What if she can't go back to her old life? What if she doesn't want to?

Amanda drives the kids to school, forcing herself to participate in their excited chatter about the upcoming summer break. As she drops them off, she waves goodbye and watches them disappear into the school building. Once they're gone, she lets out a long, shaky breath, the reality of her situation finally hitting her. She's committed to this affair now, and there's no turning back. Amanda pulls out of the school parking lot, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. As she drives home, she finds herself glancing in the rearview mirror, catching her reflection, her eyes drawn to the marks left on her neck by Seth. When she arrives home, she glances at his house, wondering if he's inside, waiting for her.

As she steps into her now quiet house, Amanda checks her phone, hoping to find a message from him. There's nothing yet, and Amanda feels a mix of relief and disappointment. She needs to clear her head, so she heads to the backyard to tend to the garden, finding solace in the mundane tasks.

As Amanda kneels in the dirt, pulling weeds, her mind drifts back to her encounter with Seth that morning. The memory of his strong hands on her body and his passionate kisses makes her skin tingle. She imagines his lips on her neck, his teeth grazing her sensitive skin, and she shivers despite the warm sun above. Amanda's hands work methodically through the soil, her fingers brushing against the cool earth. The physicality of the task grounds her, anchoring her to the present even as her mind wanders down a path of unbridled fantasy. She can almost feel Seth's hands on her hips, guiding her movements, his breath hot against her ear as he whispers words of desire.

A sudden sound from the neighboring yard snaps Amanda out of her reverie. She looks up to see Seth emerging from his back door, a bag of trash in hand. Their eyes meet, and Amanda feels a jolt of electricity course through her body. Seth's gaze is intense, predatory almost, and it sends a shiver down Amanda's spine. He raises a hand in greeting, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. Amanda's heart pounds in her chest as she returns the gesture, acutely aware of how she must look - disheveled and flushed from both her gardening and her daydreams. Seth disappears around the side of his house, and Amanda finds herself leaning forward, straining to catch another glimpse of him as he moves.

The sun beats down on Amanda's back as she continues working in the garden, her mind racing with thoughts of Seth. She replays the morning's events in her mind, relishing every detail - the feel of his skin against hers, the taste of his lips, the way his body moved against her.

As Amanda kneels in the lush flowerbed, her hands buried in the earth, she hears a rustle of leaves behind her. Before she can turn, strong hands grasp her waist from behind, pulling her close against a solid, muscular body. Seth's hot breath tickles her ear as he whispers, "Miss me already, Mrs. Reynolds?"