He's tired... and worried

Henry's voice came through the speaker, sounding tired but warm. "It was long, but productive. I'm glad to be back in my hotel room." There was a pause, then he continued, his words taking on a more serious quality. "Amanda, is everything okay? You sound... different somehow."

She fidgeted with the hem of her shirt, guilt and desire churning inside her. "I'm fine, really. Just a bit tired, I suppose." She **** a light laugh, but it sounded hollow even to her own ears. "How about you? How's the conference?"

Henry hesitated for a moment, as if he was trying to read between the lines of Amanda's words. "The conference is going well, but that's not what I want to talk about right now. Amanda, I can hear it in your voice. Something is troubling you. Please, tell me what's going on."

Amanda's breath caught in her throat, her heart pounding wildly. She paced to the window, staring out at the darkening sky. The temptation to confess everything, to unburden herself of the weight of her secret, was almost overwhelming. But the thought of the pain she would cause Henry, of the life they had built together crumbling, kept the words trapped in her mouth.

"I..." Amanda hesitated, her voice trembling with uncertainty. "I...I can't tell you right now, Henry. It's not something we should discuss over the phone." She squeezed her eyes shut, hating herself for the lie even as she spoke it. "I promise I'll explain everything when you get home, okay?"

There was a long pause on the other end of the line, and Amanda could practically feel the weight of Henry's worry radiating through the phone. "Amanda," he said finally, his voice heavy with concern, "you know you can tell me anything, right? Whatever it is, we can face it together."

Amanda's fingers tightened around the phone, her knuckles turning white. She opened her mouth to speak, but a sudden sound from the living room made her freeze. Her daughter's voice carried through the open door, calling out for her. "Mom? I can't find my history textbook. Did you see it?"

Amanda's heart sank. She couldn't have this conversation right now, not with her children within earshot. "Just a minute, sweetheart!" she called out, her words strained. "I'll be right there." She turned back to the phone, speaking softly. "Henry, I'm sorry. I have to go. I'll talk to you when you get home, I promise. I love you."

"Amanda, wait-" Henry started to say, but she cut him off, ending the call abruptly. She stared at the phone in her hand, her fingers trembling slightly as she set it down on the counter. Taking a deep breath, she **** a smile onto her face and hurried down to the living room.

"Hey, sweetie," she said, trying to keep her voice light. "What's the matter?"

Her daughter looked up at her, her brow furrowed with concern. "Mom, are you okay? You seem...off lately. Is everything alright with you and Dad?"

Amanda's heart skipped a beat. She swallowed hard, trying to maintain her composure. "Of course, honey. Everything's fine." She moved closer to her daughter, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. "Don't worry about us, okay? Your dad and I are doing great." Her words were laced with guilt and desperation, but she pressed on, determined to deflect the conversation.

"And hey, I found your textbook!" She held up the book she'd spotted on the coffee table, using the distraction to change the subject. "Here you go. Now, why don't you get started on your homework while I take a quick shower?"

Abigail hesitated for a moment, her eyes searching Amanda's face as if trying to discern the truth behind her words. Finally, she nodded and took the textbook from her mother's hand. "Okay, Mom. Thanks."

As Amanda retreated to the bathroom, she leaned against the closed door and exhaled shakily. The guilt was still coiled tightly in her gut, threatening to spill over at any moment. She couldn't shake the feeling that Abigail knew something was amiss, that she could see right through the flimsy facade Amanda had constructed.

Turning on the shower, Amanda stepped beneath the spray and let the warm water wash over her. As she soaped up, her mind wandered back to her encounter with Seth earlier that day. His strong hands, his commanding presence, the way he had taken charge of her body - it was all so different from her life with Henry. Amanda felt her body responding to the memory, arousal building despite her guilt and worry. She tried to push the thoughts away, focusing on the tasks ahead, but her body wouldn't cooperate.

Amanda's hand slipped between her legs, her fingers seeking out the source of her arousal. As she touched herself, she closed her eyes and let out a soft moan, imagining Seth's hands on her body instead of her own. The guilt intensified, but so did her pleasure as she brought herself to a quick, intense orgasm under the running water.

Afterward, she stood there for a moment, catching her breath and trying to compose herself. She knew she couldn't keep this up forever, but for now, it was all she had. Amanda quickly finished her shower and wrapped herself in her robe, calling out to her children that it was time for bed. Amanda dried her hair and dressed for bed, her body still tingling from her shower experience. She joined her children for their evening routine, reading them stories and tucking them in. As she left their room, her phone buzzed with a message