Chapter 90

Richard finally freed himself from her arms and turned to see Maine sobbing. He reached out to wipe the tears from her eyes, her hands holding on to his wrists tightly as he did so.

"Hey," He asked softly. "Why are you crying?"

"Please don't leave me, Home," she whispered in between sobs.

"I was just stepping out," he explained. "I was going to come back."

"Please, don't leave!"

Richard sighed as he took her hand to his and led her back to their bed. They sat on the edge, but Maine immediately wrapped her arms around his waist, almost toppling them over. He wrapped his arms around her, his head resting on top of hers. He rubbed her back in an up and down motion to help her relax. She held on to him tighter.

"I love you, Richard Jason Faulkerson," she declared suddenly. "So so much. Please don't ever leave me."

"Maine - "

"I don't care what you did before," she said as she looked up to him to meet his eyes. "I don't care what happened in your past. I could really care less how many women you had before you met me. That was in your past.

"We're together now. And that's what's important. How we'll move forward together, that should be our concern more, right? You're my home. Where would I be without my Home?"

She buried her face on his chest once more and held him tighter. Richard sighed and held her to him as well. He was lost for words. He never expected her to hold him like this after what he just told her. He was even more astonished at how she reacted when he decided to step out. He thought that she would be more than glad that he would give her space, not fearing that he would not come back. He smiled inspite of himself and kissed the top of her head tenderly, letting her feel how much he loved her. But he knew that he had still hurt her, and that he didn't deserve her treatment of him.

They kept at that position for a few more minutes until he felt Maine stifled a yawn.

"Come on, Maine," he said. "Let's get you tucked in. I'm sure you're exhausted."

He assisted her as she laid down the bed before he went to his side and laid down on his side facing her. But Maine noticed that he left a space between them, unlike before that it came naturally for him to pull her close to him. She didn't like his hesitation. She didn't like this gap that he was making. She didn't like the space between them.

"Home..."

"Get some sleep, Maine," Richard said.

She scowled. She hasn't heard him call her by her petname since they've talked. And it started to frustrate her. She wanted to make things right again.

"Home?"

"Hmm?"

"You still love me, right?"

"Of course. That hasn't changed, Maine. I love you. No question about that."

She suddenly sat up and left the bed and went to her bag. She rummaged through the contents until she found what she was looking for. She returned to their bed and handed him the small box of the pills Dr. Vega prescribed for her.

From the light of the bedside lamp on his side of the bed, Richard read the inscription on the box and sat up quickly in shock.

"Maine - "

"I want you to know that I am thinking about it," Maine explained as she sat facing him, her hands once more playing with the hem of her shirt. "I want that kind of intimacy with you. Soon."

"Maine," Richard said softly. "I told you. We don't need to rush things."

"I'm not rushing into anything, Home," she replied. "I just want us to discuss this. This is a big step, right?"

There was a shadow of a smile on his face as he reached out to caress her cheek. She sighed at the contact, as she leaned her head to his hand, her own hand holding the one on her cheek.

"You don't need to do this, my Heart," he whispered.

She let out another sigh upon hearing her pet name on his lips. She crawled and sat on his lap. She wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on the crook of his neck. He leaned back on the headboard after arranging the pillows on his back.

"You called me, 'my Heart'," she said as she snuggled close to him.

"You are my Heart," he stated as he held her to him, savouring their moment of closeness.

"Say it again."

"You are my Heart."

"It didn't feel like it a moment ago," she whispered.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't know if you still want me to call you that after all the things I've told you earlier."

"I will always want you to call me that," she replied. "It hurt when you didn't."

"I love you, my Heart," Richard declared looking deeply into her eyes. "With every fiber of my being, I love you."

Maine pulled him to her and kissed him. He hesitated at first but returned the kiss with the same fervor. Their kiss was slow and intimate as they explored each other like it was their first time. He let her lead, following her pace as her arms crept up and wrapped them around his neck, her fingers playing at the hair on his nape. When they ended the kiss, they were both satisfied as their foreheads touched, their eyes were closed. Richard sighed as he mentally promised himself never to hurt Maine that way again.

He kissed her softly once more before he felt around the bed for the box that he dropped when Maine sat on his lap. He showed it to her, shaking the box as he did so.

"The box is still sealed," he said.

"I wanted to talk to you about it first."

"Doc Burnz said it's safe, right?"

"Yes," Maine replied. "He mentioned that it wouldn't be a problem even with all the steroids that I'm taking."

"This is a big step, Maine," he said. "Are you really sure about this?"

"As long as it's with you," she answered. "I'm very sure."

Richard smiled at her reply and and kissed the top of her head once more. He started to read the inscriptions on the box again. He wanted to make sure that he didn't leave out anything.

"Hmm..." He said. "It says here that we need to wait at least a month before we could have intercourse."

"A month?!?"

"It's not that long a wait, Heart," he remarked. "Besides, I need to talk with Doc Burnz too."

"Why?"

"For future reference," he replied. "When the time comes when you won't need to take these pills anymore."

Maine just looked at him with a puzzled expression for a few moments, thinking of what he meant. Her eyes widen as she gasped when she realized what he meant.

"You want kids?" She asked as she saw a worried look on his face.

"Not in the immediate future," Richard replied as he reached out to one of her cheek and give it a loving caress. "But someday. I am still in this for the long haul, as long as you still want me."

Maine held her to him in a tight embrace, telling him how much she still wanted him. They stayed that way in comfortable silence, just relishing their moment of closeness that almost didn't happen that night.

Maine finally broke the silence, "my Home?"

"Hmm?"

He felt her hesitate before she continued, "did those women taught you everything you know?"

"I guess you could say that," he reluctantly replied.

"Did they...did they taught you well?"

Richard looked at her, one eyebrow raised in question and a smirk formed on his lips.

"Would you like a demonstration?"

The smile that Maine gave him was all the answer he needed.