Disclaimer: As a fair warning, parts of this chapter are a little M-rated. I am aware there are readers that do not prefer this genre of writing, hence the warning. Read at your own discretion, and hope you all enjoy! :)

The Dinner—Part III

Doing the dishes always relaxed her. A chore that other members of her family loathed, never taking the initiative to complete. Their distaste bestowed her the uninterrupted time to set into a groove of cleaning while she brooded over the day or whatever bone of contention lingered. She turned on the faucet and slowly passed the cleansed porcelain back and forth beneath the running water as her ears perked at the sound of Peter on a call in the family room.

It was almost eleven and they had finished the promised dinner and bonus game night more than three hours ago. Choosing to stay awhile longer to polish off the bottle of wine and help tidy up once Zach and Grace were in bed—even though Peter greatly insisted she didn't need to—was an offer she felt compelled to uphold after their unselfish actions 'in her honor'. At least that was the reason she convinced herself to stay once he refilled their glasses with wine and became her sounding board after she shyly asked his opinion on a new case she was assigned. Talking over wine while having an intellectual discussion about law reminded her of the days when they were young and falling in love without trying.

The reminder roused a warm sensation deep in her belly that spread throughout her body. Coupled with the wine, she knew her judgment was heading down a slippery slope the longer she stayed. The minor instance that happened a while ago was a clear indicator of how this night would end. In the dining room, during their converse about her case, he innocently asked if she was hot. She immediately became embarrassed for her fair skin was surely visibly flushed, but not due to the room temperature.

"You okay?" He reached out a hand to run down her arm.

She licked her lips repeatedly and brushed a tendril of hair from her face. "Mm-hmm, I'm fine."

"You sure?" He turned to look behind him down the darkened hallway. "I can turn on the air conditioner for a bit."

"No need for that. I'm fine."

Reaching for her glass, she brought it back to her lips and eyed him as she drank nervously. That familiar look was in his eyes, coupled with a boyish smirk. An expression she had grown accustomed to over the years and recognized to signal one thing.

"We never did make it to closing arguments during these…sessions, did we?"

She couldn't resist the smile that tugged at her lips. No, they barely made it past helping her narrow down the best opening argument in those days.

"Well—"

A call from Jackie interrupted her having to confirm his suspicions. For once, she was grateful for her mother-in-law's vexing untimeliness.

Setting the last plate in the drying rack, she unplugged the drain to let out the soapy water as she reached for her half-finished glass of wine. It was her third, and counting. Their conversation from earlier this afternoon once again rang true in her mind. She thought about heading home many times, but for some reason she couldn't bring herself to pick up her belongings and exit. Owen sent a text message a few hours ago letting her know that he decided to go out and catch up with a friend and to not wait up. That was all the ammunition she needed. Her thoughts kept floating back to their last session and every moment that's happened since.

He's been sweet…attentive. He sent flowers. Well, he didn't need to send them. Doesn't change how I feel. But it was sweet. And dinner tonight…

As she drank another sip, her eyes floated towards the ceiling, wondering if the kids were truly asleep upstairs before her attention diverted back in the direction of the family room. Holding the glass to her chest, her stocking clad feet treaded carefully towards the adjacent entry. She stood within the archway, unapologetically drinking in the sight of Peter ending his call.

"Sorry about that."

"Jackie alright?"

"Yeah. She switched cable providers last week and has been struggling ever since. Surprised she's still up. But, I'll be going over to help her with the DVR tomorrow evening," he said with a roll of his eyes as he set his phone on the coffee table and picked up his glass. "Shall we finish discussing strategy?"

"No, that's okay. I have plenty of time to research more."

"You sure?"

She nodded. "Kitchen is all clean."

He leaned back against the cushion, legs gapped, an arm stretched out along the back of the sofa while staring at her over his glass. She made no attempt to move from her slanted position as she ingested his inviting, lean frame. Lately she had to stop herself from fantasizing. Or being the one to initiate an end to their physical drought. Each time they were alone or kissed, it seemed each moment grew longer, more intense than the last.

"You didn't have to do that," he said.

"I know." She smirked and took another sip. "I wanted to. It was the least I could do."

"Showing up was the least you could do."

Still, after all was said and done, he knew their progress wasn't completely set in stone during this trial period and even though she said yes to a second chance, at any point she could change her mind and say no.

Smiling, she caught the twinkle in his eyes as butterflies commenced to dance in the pit of her stomach. That familiar gaze was back. This time it told her that he was pondering how to make her his.

Downing the rest of his wine, he set the stemware back onto the table then leaned forward, elbows resting on his knees. With a tilt of his head and lick of his lips, he whispered, "Come here."

She bit her lower lip as the smirk was now permanently etched onto her mouth and waltzed towards him. The effects of the wine were full throttle. She was warm and buzzing, her conscience relaxed and freed of second-guessing any action that followed once she reached his seated position.

Depositing her glass onto the table beside his empty one, she turned to sit when his hand connected to the back of her stocking clad thigh.

Curiosity filled her eyes as she peered down at him, feeling the pads of his fingers dip beneath the hem of her skirt and tease the skin just above the tops of her thigh-highs—her bare, upper thighs. Her body became aflame at the bold contact, so much so that she felt her knees would buckle. He must have sensed her distress for his grip slightly tightened.

He peered up at her as he pulled her closer to anchor between his legs. She in turn rested her palms on his shoulders, continuing to follow under his allure as both his hands were now firmly planted on the backs of her thighs, softly caressing.

"Are you in a hurry to get home?"

The sound of his voice nearly made her eyes roll into the back of her head. It was deep and husky, filled with a similar longing that probably matched the ache stewing in the place she most wanted his skill hands right now.

"No."

In truth, she was in no condition to drive and had long resolved to stay the night after reading Owen's message.

"Considering you gave a perfect rating for dinner," he leaned back from her slightly, "I assume that I have earned dessert."

Her eyes fluttered at his words, again recalling his request during their phone conversation earlier. They both knew it was more than dinner that resulted in this moment. Which lead her to robotically nod.

His hands scaled higher, pausing to caress the underside of her bottom. The simple stroke made her heart feel as if it would beat out of her chest.

"Is now a good time to partake?"

Their eyes locked, both their hearts racing a mile a minute. It wouldn't be their first time doing this, but it felt like the first. Mostly to her. A reason she couldn't quite rationale just yet. As her fingers smoothed through the hairs at the base of his neck, she took a second to cherish this moment, knowing that after tonight, there was no going back.

"Yes. Now is a good time," she whispered followed by a smile.

She felt under his direction when he slid a hand down to the dip behind her knees and lifted one leg, resting it on the sofa. She knew what he wanted when he began to lift the opposing leg, signaling to straddle him. She obliged without hesitation. In seconds she was nestled comfortably atop his lap, her thighs clenching his waist and arms encircling his neck.

Peter palmed her bottom as he eagerly met her lowered lips in a kiss. Months of breaking down walls and rebuilding a foundation ignited suppressed desire while they worked on reestablishing their relationship. He had to ignore the heat that stirred when he looked a second longer at her derrière in her tailored skirt, or when she flashed a shy smile after catching him admiring her from afar. Now as she sat atop him, ready and willing, he undoubtedly knew the highs and lows from the past couple of months would solidify tonight in being worth the wait.

His hands skate up her back, pausing to un-tuck her blouse before floating back down to grip her behind. Alicia broke their drugging lip lock, panting.

"Let's go upstairs," she mumbled against his lips, moving her kisses down the line of his jaw.

"Mmm…" He swept his hands down her thighs, ultimately reaching for the dormant remote on the chair beside him, and turned off the television. "Let's stay here."

She lifted her head from his neck as she sought his face in the now mostly darkened room, the under cabinet lighting from the kitchen projecting a subtle fluorescent hue that filtered throughout the lower level. Her gaze darted towards the staircase.

"They're asleep," he said, answering the question filling her eyes.

Keeping a steady hand on her lower back, he dipped back to partially recline against the back cushion, angling himself to now be completely at her mercy.

"They won't come back down for the night." He pushed the hem of her skirt higher.

"I know. But...please."

He leaned forward and placed a kiss on the skin of her chest. "That's what you want?"

Grinning, she nipped his lips. "I want you to take me to bed," she huskily whispered.

"I love a woman that knows what she wants."

Smiling, he held her tight within his embrace as he scoot towards the edge of the seat and slowly rose from the couch with her in tow. Alicia locked her feet beneath his bottom, remembering how he often carried her up the winding staircase of their former home on many nights. As she flipped the switches off for the remaining lights lining the path of their journey, she couldn't help but wonder if after tonight, they would be climbing this staircase for many more nights to come.

# # #

Peter lifted the duvet and sheets, easing back into bed as stealthily as he could. He eyed the back of her slumbering chestnut head while he slid across the California King to resume spooning her naked backside. Dawn had just broken the darkened sky, signaling their bliss was going to end soon. Being the early riser of the two, he decided to take a walk down memory lane and enjoy every last minute of this moment before the real world beckoned. After last night, he shouldn't have the energy. They came to his room and joined as one in the best way they knew how. Then a few hours later—after a quick shower and post lazily discussing the future in bed—their pelvises were joined for the last time. Alicia joked she wouldn't be able to walk today. He almost took it as a challenge.

Lowering his lips to her shoulder, he covered the smooth span of her skin in open mouth kisses as he drew her closer, savoring holding her in his arms. He briefly wondered when was the last time he held her like this. Even when they started sleeping in the same bed again, it still felt as if she had her guard up. As if she wouldn't truly give him all of her. The times when he did get close to a moment like this, she usually jolted awake and terminated their intimacy.

He slipped a hand beneath the sheets to settle on her abdomen, guiding his fingers in slow, back and forth sweeps as his lips ramped up their speed. In the predicted amount of time, she began to readjust her head along on the pillow.

"Peter?"

Her sleep-laden voice caused him to look up and then smile when he saw her eyes still closed.

"Yeah, babe?"

Alicia was stuck in the cross between sleep and reality. She felt the outline of his strong chest pressed against her back and his hand teasing regions along the front of her body, but couldn't shake the dreamy fog.

"Tired?" he murmured against her ear in the same instance that his hand started moving south.

That felt very real. It didn't take much coaxing on his part before his missioned hand was planted between the now widened cleft of her thighs.

Her eyes slowly opened as she checked the time of the clock on his night stand—6:05—then craned her neck back to meet his face. "You've always had the worst timing."

He chuckled, brushing his lips against hers. "Too early?"

She rolled onto her back, bringing him with her as she palmed his face and met his lips in another chaste kiss.

"Yes, it's early."

"Want me to stop?"

He lowered his lips back to her neck as he enlisted his busy hands to skid back down her body. When he resumed stroking her in a manner that had a history of leaving her tongue tied, she wrapped her arms around his neck and grabbed his face again, covering his mouth with her own.

"No," she breathlessly moaned into their kiss. "Don't stop."

Snaking her arm down between them, she seized the waistband of his boxers and lowered the thin cotton from his hips with his aid. She didn't need more foreplay; she wanted him. Now. In a matter of breaths, he was posed at her entrance. Raising and widening her legs, she adjusted her pelvis to smoothly welcome him back into her body.

"Good morning," he whispered against her lips.

Grasping her hands, he pinned her wrists to the mattress as he moored himself back in her core. Times like now, he was reminded of just how much he missed his wife in his bed. There was nothing else like her scent, her warmth, her touch…

Alicia moaned deep into his mouth, feeling parts of her body being reawakened for the umpteenth time. Their fingers interlaced and moved higher along the mattress in turn causing him to fall more on top her, his thrusts intensifying as she hiked her legs higher around his waist.

A grin possessed her mouth as she fully succumbed to his appetite, remembering that morning sex with him was always some of their best sex.

# # #

"You know, you really don't have to go," said Peter.

Crinkled sheets covered his lower half while he remained propped against the headboard, watching Alicia wife walk around the room in her bra and skirt, searching for her panties and blouse.

"I can't stay locked in this room with you all day," she said distractedly, picking up her blouse from the floor and slipping it on.

"I'm sure we'll find ways to keep each other entertained."

She caught the smug smile on his face, helpless in returning the look. Finally finding her undergarments, she clutched them within her hand and hastily began buttoning her shirt.

"I need to recover from last night…and this morning."

"We're just getting started, babe."

Laughing, she walked to his side of the bed and pressed her hands into the mattress, leaning in.

"As enticing as that sounds, the real world awaits, and the kids will be up soon. Which means your fatherly duties is more important than continuously getting laid."

"I'm sure they would like it if we both got them fed and off to school this morning." It was as if all happiness seeped from her face to be replaced with defense. He took note. "We've told them we're back together. Well, Zach anyway."

"I know. But that doesn't mean," she swayed her hands over his reclined form and about the room, "this."

"So what does this mean?" He observed her pass a hand over her face, all too familiar with the rehearsed signal. She was going to deflect. "You regret everything?"

"No! Not at all." She recoiled back slightly and licked her lips, thinking of how to tactfully respond. "Just…more so Grace will have questions and I don't have the answers right now and this…it's all still fresh." Exhaling a tired sigh, she raked a hand through her messy hair. "Not this morning, okay?"

He stared up at her, wondering if a small part of her did regret everything that happened even though she stated otherwise.

"Then when?"

Their eyes met in a death stare match. The unwelcome, well-versed nonverbal fight of who could be more stubborn was on the horizon.

"Peter, let's not do this now. We'll sit down and talk to them soon, but not this morning, please?"

Deciding to let the brooding fight go, he pulled her back down to him and tucked her hair behind her ears. "Okay. You win. I love you."

Smiling, she quickly kissed his lips. "Last night and this morning was amazing by the way." With a final kiss, she pulled back and buttoned the final button on her blouse. "Are you going to be a gentleman and tip-toe downstairs to walk me out?"

Grinning, he rose from the bed and did as she asked.