The sound of keyboard typing momentarily ceases as I sigh in frustration. This proposal has been eating up most of my days for weeks on end, with the deadline for submission rapidly approaching. I run my fingers through my hair as I stare at the screen. I barely hear my wife, Josephine, enter the room.
"You've been working too hard, shouldn't you take a break?" she asks.
I always answer the same way.
"You know that I'd give anything for this to be over, but it's only a few more days."
I smell the familiar scent of coffee, which has been my fuel for today. I turn to accept with gratitude, only to see that my wife has her robe on, with not much underneath. My brain begins to calculate if this is due to simply comfort or there is another motive in mind.
"Thanks, dear" I say as I try to ignore what I just noticed. However, as I go to reach it I can smell her familiar scent. A mix between divine and lust that is impossible to attribute to ordinary scents. In the split second it takes for me to take my coffee I notice how her hair cascadess down her side -- fair and clean. I'd give anything to run my fingers through it, but I need to stay focused. She places her hand on my right shoulder, leaning down to give me a kiss on my cheek.
"Don't work too hard" she says, as she drags her hand lightly across my back. The wetness of her kiss lingering on my cheek, making it difficult to focus on much else at this time. However, it's my duty to provide for us and provide I shall. Even if it means ignoring my base instincts to finish this damn proposal.
Another hour goes by and I've barely touched my coffee. It's gone cold at this point. I am in the middle of a sentence and I feel the familiar touch of Josephine. Both hands on my shoulders this time, which transitions to wrapping them around my chest so that her chin rests in the crook of my neck. Her scent is intoxicating.
"Are you sure you can't take a break?" she pleads.
"Honey, you know I want to, but in order for me to receive the funding next semester this has to be submitted tonight for review." I respond. I am curious why she is so insistent on me taking breaks, when before it never seemed to be that much of an issue. I work long hours to accelerate my research program, which will only set up my future family with a solid foundation to live off of for the years to come. We've always wanted kids, but it has never been explicitly discussed. I have been putting it off until this proposal is done so that we can plan accordingly. We both want to bring a baby into the world when the time is right.