Charlie returns home.

The evening sun cast a warm glow over the small suburban town as Charlie returned home from work, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of Jessica. He had picked up a bouquet of her favourite flowers on the way, hoping to surprise her and rekindle some of the passion they once shared.

"Hey, Jess," he called out as he entered their two-bedroom apartment, the scent of her perfume lingering in the air. "Look what I've got for you."

"Charlie!" she exclaimed, her eyes lighting up at the sight of the flowers. A soft smile played upon her lips as she took them from him, burying her face in the blossoms. "You shouldn't have, but thank you. They're beautiful."

"Nothing less for my beautiful wife," he replied, pulling her into an embrace. Their bodies pressed together, and he could feel the warmth of her skin through the thin fabric of her dress. It stirred a longing within him that had been growing more **** with each passing day.

"Charlie, I..." Jessica began hesitantly, her gaze falling to the floor. "I appreciate this. I really do, but..."

"Is everything alright?" he asked, concern etched across his face as he tried to read her expression.

"Of course," she said quickly, forcing a smile. "Just feeling a bit tired today, that's all."

"Let's have an early night then," Charlie suggested, attempting to mask his own disappointment. The truth was that he knew what lay behind her words, the unspoken tension that had come between them. Although she never complained outright about their sex life, it was clear that she yearned for more than he could offer.

"Sounds good," Jessica agreed, trying to sound enthusiastic as she placed the flowers in a vase. As they prepared for bed, Charlie couldn't help but steal glances at her body, his desire mounting even as he feared his inability to satisfy her.

"Jess," he whispered, tentatively reaching out to caress her shoulder. "I love you so much. I just want to make you happy."

"Charlie, I love you too," she sighed, leaning into his touch. "But sometimes... it's just not enough."

"Can we try?" he pleaded, desperation evident in his voice. "We can work on this together, find a way to make it better."

"Of course," she agreed, though her tone betrayed her uncertainty. "We can try."

They spent the night tangled in one another's embrace, their bodies straining to find pleasure amidst the shadows of doubt that haunted them both. But as Charlie climaxed all too quickly, his heart sank with the realisation that his best efforts had once again fallen short. Jessica's disappointment was palpable, despite her attempts to hide it, and Charlie couldn't help but feel like a failure.

"Jess, I'm so sorry," he murmured, his eyes brimming with tears. "I don't know what's wrong with me."

"Hey," she said softly, stroking his face. "You have nothing to apologise for. We'll figure this out, okay? Together."

"Promise?" he asked, his voice barely audible.

"Promise," she reassured him, sealing her words with a tender kiss. Yet even as they lay there, bound by their love and their shared pain, the spectre of their unfulfilled desires loomed large over them, threatening to cast a dark shadow upon their once-happy union.