Painting - No stain over paint? Then what?

I was attempting to do something different and trying to achieve a sort of transluscent, glossy effect over paint on my stairs. I ended up using a walnut stain over black latex paint. It looks great, BUT just doesn't seem right. It's still sticky after 3 days and is showing footprints like crazy. I'm beginning to think that stain is not supposed to go over paint. I thought about that, but didn't care. I just wanted it to look good. What else can I use? Would varnish or lacquer work to at least achieve a really glossy, wet look over paint? Thanks!!!

rapture, The quick drying time we are used to with stain is because it goes into the wood from one side and is dried from the other by air moving over it. In your case you only have half of the deal, the stain can't go in so it will lay there until its dry. As soon as you can put a brush on it with out lifting to much stain use an oil polyurathane and it will lock it down. Minwax poly is very fast drying now so done one evening should be ready to walk on in the morning.....Mike