“Yes,” he whispered, pressing his forehead against hers. “I wanted to see my wife before eleven for once.” For a man of his status, minutes ran together lending to the idea that time wasn’t enough. It wasn’t uncommon for Stephen to come home at midnight or even one in the morning. With meetings, constant business trips, and public appearances he was always busy doing the bid of his company and his people but recently - with everything that happened - he tried his best to be home before ten. He owed her that much. “Maddie better understand. She’s been here every night this week.” Lifting both hands, he cupped her face and gazed into her sparkling brown eyes, his thumb gently grazing her cheek. “Sometimes a man just wants his wife all to himself. Is that too much to ask for?” And with that, he leaned down and pressed a tender kiss to her lips. 

Stephen knew she was hurting, knew she was in pain. He just didn’t know how to help, what to do to make her feel better. Arguments from the past two weeks floated through his mind as their lips worked together. It was hard for them not to be on the same page because they’d been on the same page virtually since they’d met. Now he felt there was tension that couldn’t be solved with just jokes, sweet kisses and soft caresses. 

I think we should try again, he’d stated one late night. I think we should have a baby. His deep voice had been so soft in the darkness, so sure but her reaction. God, he could’ve kicked himself now. “I brought Thai. I know how much you love your noodle soup.” he said against her lips, moving his head back a bit to examine her face.

The sad skip of the record fell silent to the vibrato of his silken voice. Stephen, ever the wordsmith, used those gifted lips to institute his will on the masses; instead of some echoing bellow he whispered his will and people followed. She followed and would continue to follow him through the ring of fire. The every enticing mystery that swirled around him still. They had been married for eight months and she still felt herself being mystified by his poise and his wrath. A drifting play on the moment they met curled around her head. Stephen stood stark in an unimaginable amount of stiff lines, glossed buttons, and passionate eyes. The world bent in his view almost like it wished to curl around him like a cape; the unsung hero in the story she never thought she’d have a part in. Looking back at that afternoon, she had no clue what turn her world had taken; even if she stubbornly believed in her all knowing intuition. 

Kat melted into his strong arms, allowing herself to shift the weight of her sorrow to slip off her shoulders, like some fatigued Atlas. She didn’t know if she could hold the world over her head when her knees trembled with the new tremor beneath them.  “Hey,” her usual sarcastic tone dissipating into a warm vulnerability. “They say midnight is the bewitching hour for passion. Who really wants to eat dinner at 5pm and tucker into bed at 8pm? Noobs,” she cooed. Kat’s fingers smoothed through his hair tenderly. She toyed with the ends. He never let it grow out this long and she liked it this way. Beneath all of his perfection, there were pockets of the man she still wished to figure out. Everyday was another dog eared page and secret meaning in the grand novel of his life. “I told her your schedule was a bit jam packed this week and she..she didn’t want me to be alone. It’s like I’m ten all over again,” her voice dipped slightly at the thought of why she needed company. If she had it her way, she’d lay in bed feeling sorry for herself. Maddie detested such idle pity; it’s why she was so grateful for the woman. Yet, in all of the support, she had realized how little he may be getting. 

She wasn’t the only one who lost something.

Sam: As if I could marry you any other way!

Sam: We love you too!

Sam: I also make no promises on not taking up all the cuddles in your absence

Maddie: - Madelyn hearted 'we love you too' -

Maddie: Lol, got it!!

Maddie: You ladies want me to bring anything from Beekman?

Maddie: Also, I'm bringing wine! Because why not?!

Kat: You know I'll never deny you all the cuddles, sammy baby

Kisses with Thai Take-out Please || Stephen + Kate

Work these days dragged on. If it wasn’t one thing it was the other and honestly, it weighed heavily on Stephen. Not only did his duties include an entire community of people but a corporation in which he sat on the board of. However, the minute his driver opened the car door of the black Mercedes and he saw his doorman’s familiar and friendly face the day melted away. This was what he’d dreamt of so many years ago; coming home to someone who understand the person behind the man. And even though she was peeved with him, he knew with a single smile and a soft kiss their disagreement would disappear. Hopefully. Thanking Jorge, his driver, for handing him the bag of Thai take out, he made it inside the building swiftly there after. Stephen, even if exhausted by his many duties, always tried to be friendly. 

Even if it was often concluded that he had hard face, a never smiling or pleasing one, he tried to always show a little kindness. It didn’t take long before he was on the penthouse floor from his private elevator. Home s w e e t home. It was in the final moments of his descend upward that he released the responsibilities of his many endeavors and became the man behind the politics and corporation. Once the stainless steel elevator doors glided open, his ocean blue eyes scanned the open layout of the loft in search of the one person in the world he couldn’t survive with out. “Kate, sweetheart? I’m home! I hope you were toying about dinner with Maddie,” he called out as he entered their pristine kitchen without catching a glance of her brunette curls. Laying the take out bag on the counter top, he reached up a hand to begin unfastening his tie. 

“Because I have a surprise for you!”

@katxbeauford​

The indigo skyline looked dull against the contrasting shine of the city lights below. Luckily, she didn’t have to fight the sky scrapping high rises for a view of the diamond crusted evening. It was a perk of living on top; at least that was what most of Stephen’s colleagues believed. Yet being so high up and removed from the blaring traffic below fostered a loneliness that she tried so desperately to shake. The record skipped hopelessly against the pointed tip of the wandering needle. Kat didn’t have the energy to lift out of bed to flip to the next side. She didn’t have much energy for anything these days. Stephen took the news in stride covering his elation for her sake; just as he masked his pain for her failure. Kat never wanted to think about children this early in their marriage; hell this early in her life. For a long time, they weren’t apart of her grand plan but neither was he. The moment Stephen waltzed into her office with his expensive shoes and unfaltering ego, everything changed. 

Her whole life changed in an instant. 

Sighing, she curled into the velvety duvet, burying her head beneath the pillow. Work had her slammed. The exhaustion helped keep her mind off of what they lost. Just as she finally began to dream about the possibilities, they were ripped away. Kat wondered if it had been some grand teachable moment served by the universe about being humble. To not rise beyond ones means or think they matter more than the cosmic quota. The distant hum of the elevator sounded in the distance. Her body still motionless beneath the fluffed fabric. Kat swallowed the lump in her throat and wiped away the tears that betrayed her before pulling her robe tight around her waist. She was far more sensitive than she wanted to admit and he was just the easiest target. 

She shuffled out of the master bedroom and watched him meekly from the doorway. The crisp brown bags stood stark against the white marble top. Kat chewed on the inside of her lips before making a bee line towards her husband. Her arms curled instinctively around his neck holding him closer. No matter how peeved she was or wasn’t, there was no safe space than in his presence. 

Stephen: I never knew that.

Stephen: Okay, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said it that way but every night I come Maddie or Sam is there. I just want to spend time with my wife. Is that so bad?

Kat: It's not a bad thing. It's just how you are. It's why you're so successful.

-three minutes later-

Maddie: Aweeee, yessss. When?

Maddie: If tonight, can it be after eleven. I have to stop home to get changed.

Sam: Girl, I'm already in my pjs

Sam: I'll be there in 30

Sam: Maddie, you act like you can't just throw on something of Kat's

Sam: Unless you're coming back from a 'special' night out? 😉😉

Kat: Now would be preferable.

Kat: Sam, marry me in those sexy footie pajamas please?

Stephen: Both. That is not true. I think I'm a pretty mellow guy. Wouldn't you agree?

Stephen: I thought I did ask but let me spell it out. Would you, my wife, like to have dinner with my at the new Thai place around the corner? Without Maddie.

Stephen: Please.

Kat: It can't be both. It's one of the other. You're mellow when you get your way.

Kat: I don't need you to spell anything out to me, Stephen.

Stephen: Yes, I can talk anyone into agreeing.

Stephen: Maddie isn't invited. Doesn't she have Devon to have dinner with? Or someone else to impose on? I want to spend time with my wife. Alone.

Kat: Did you use your stern voice or that silver tongue? It's a good gauge on your mood.

Stephen: Nothing I can't handle.

Stephen: Well...I'll be home by nine if you want to try that new Thai place on our block.

Kat: Did they budge on the budget?

Kat: Hello my angels. I wanted to know if you wanted to come over and cuddle?

Stephen: One episode of bachelorette. I have a meeting that ran over. Did you eat?

Stephen: Will be home late.

Kat: Late like one episode of the bachelorette late or out till the morning late?