MY PRETEND WIFE

No More Barriers

Maine turned on the lights in her penthouse apartment as Richard followed close behind her. She placed her purse on the coffee table and shrugged off her coat as well as Richard's. He glanced around the apartment taking in his surroundings. He had to admit that his mother have good taste. The apartment was luxurious without being too ostentatious.

"This place is really nice" he commented as he took a seat on one of the wingback chairs.

"All the credit goes to your mom" Maine replied with a smile as she headed towards the kitchen to prepare dinner for both of them.

Richard stared at the huge glass window. He couldn't believe that he's really here in New York. A few hours ago he was alone and missing Maine. Now he's already here with her, close enough to reach out and touch her if he wished to, to wrap his arms around her, to claim her lips with his. He couldn't help but smile as he thought of all the things that he wanted to do with her and more.

He slowly rstood up from his seat and headed towards the kitchen. Maine was busy preparing the ingredients for the dish she was cooking that she did not notice him in the doorway. Silently he walked towards her and wrapped his arms around her from behind.

Maine's heart jumped as soon as she felt Richard's arms around her.

"I'm preparing steak for tonight. Is that okay with you?" She asked as she willed herself to stay calm.

"You know that anything you cook is okay with me" Richard said with a smirk.

Maine nudged him with her elbows.

"Stop teasing!" She exclaimed as she turned around to face him. "Why don't you just help me cook?" She said with a smile.

"What ever you wish Mrs. Faulkerson" he replied with a sexy grin that caused Maine's heart to skip a beat.

Trying to hide the blush that stained her cheeks, Maine thrust an apron into Richard's arms and turned around to focus on her cooking. Much to Maine's dismay, she realized that asking Richard to help her cook was not a good idea. Richard's ability in cutting and dicing vegetables was non existent. She had to show him how it was done several times and even after all that he was still unable to do it correctly. They finally finished cooking after three hours. She would have finished it in an hour if she had done it on her own. However she did not have the heart to tell him that since he seemed to be so proud of himself for his accomplishment in the kitchen. It was already past eight o'clock when they were finally able to settle down to eat and she was famished.

"This is delicious honey" Richard praised her after he swallowed his first spoonful. Maine couldn't help but blush from his compliment.

"I really missed your cooking" Richard commented with a small smile causing Maine's heart to swell with happiness.

"Stop joking" Maine reprimanded him although she couldn't help but smile back at him.

"I'm not joking. Look at me. I've lost so much weight since you left" he argued as he looked at her with puppy dog eyes.

For the first time since Richard arrived, she looked at him carefully and was alarmed at what she saw. He was not joking when he said he lost weight. Apart from that, the dark circles under his eyes were very evident and Maine's heart constricted with the thought that he might have suffered.

"Come to think of it, you look terrible!" Maine exclaimed in concern.

"Gee, thanks" Richard replied sarcastically but smiled while doing so in order to let Maine know that he was just joking.

Maine stood up from her seat and approached him. She cupped his face between her hands and stared worriedly at him. She lightly brushed the pads of her thumbs through his dark circles and Richard closed his eyes with a sigh. "You look so tired" she whispered.

"It was a stressful week" Richard explained weakly. He couldn't help but savor the heat of her palms agains his cheeks.

"I think you better get some rest. I'm sure you're pretty tired after your long flight" Maine said as she released him and started gathering their dirty plates. "Why don't you get dressed and I'll finish up in the kitchen"

"I'll help you" Richard started to say but Maine interrupted him.

"No. Just freshen up and rest. I'll be with you in a while" Maine said firmly.

Richard reluctantly stood up and headed towards the bathroom. He didn't want to leave Maine but she was right. He really needed a hot shower to soothe his tired muscles.

After thirty minutes Maine finally entered the bedroom and found Richard lying on the bed watching TV.

"How are you feeling?" Maine asked as soon as she entered the room.

"Much better" Richard replied with a smile as he looked up from the program he was watching.

"That's good" Maine said with a smile. "I'll just be in the bathroom"

Richard followed Maine with his gaze as she entered the bathroom. He had a strong urge to follow her into the bathroom. To hold her close to him and feel the cascading water caressing their bodies. He shook his head as he tried to dismiss the not so innocent thoughts running through his head. He turned his head towards the television and tried to focus on the program instead.

Maine emerged from the bathroom fifteen minutes later wearing a simple, cotton nightshirt. Ricgard glanced at her and swallowed hard. Maine approached the bed and got on the other side while Richard turned off the television and settled under the covers. As Maine was about to fix some pillows in the middle of the bed as they always did, Richard reached out and grabbed her hand. Maine looked at him in surprise.

"Is there something wrong?" She asked.

"Um, is it okay if we don't put the pillows in between anymore?" He stammered.

Maine's jaw dropped in surprise. She was too shocked to speak.

"It's just that the bed is quite small and it would be a little cramped if we still put the pillows between us" Richard tried to reason out.

"Okay, if you want to" Maine replied shyly as she moved the pillows away.

Richard turned the lights off and the room was covered in darkness. Maine instantly felt the electricity in the air. Richard was just right next to her and his presence was palpable.

"Honey" Richard's soft voice was heard in the dark.

"Hmm" she responded as she turned over towards his voice.

"I feel a little cold. Is it okay if I move a little closer to you?" Richard said again.

Maine could feel her whole body warm up at his request. "Okay" she whispered back.

She held her breath as she felt the bed shift. Richard moved a little closer until she felt his arm wound around her waist. She could feel her heart thudding like crazy as she felt him pull her closer against him. The heat of his body against hers was causing havoc to her senses.

Maine took deep and steady breaths as she tried to steady her beating heart. Eventually her eyelids grew heavy and she succumbed to a peaceful sleep.

Richard lay in the darkness as he listened to his wife's steady breathing. Maine has already fallen asleep but Richard was still wide awake. He still could not believe that Maine is in his arms right now. He moved his fingers absent mindedly against Maine's arms and savored the smooth silky feel of her skin. He buried his face against her neck and breathed in the sweet scent of her hair. Unable to resist himself, he rained soft kisses against her throat until Maine shifted in her sleep. Richard has never felt so contented in his life. Here safe in Maine's arms is exactly where he wanted to be.

"I missed you so much" He leaned over and whispered to her ear even though he knew that she would not be able to hear him.

"I love you"