Caught In A Name

CHAPTER THIRTY

Warning: Rated 18A for course, strong and sexual language. Please heed the warning. Thank you!

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Nicomaine gently placed the sleeping Charmaine on the crib after changing her diaper and feeding her. She paused for a minute just looking at the little baby's chubby, peaceful face.

"Life is so simple for you isn't it? If you only knew the things you have been through in the last month. I swore on your parents that I will never let anyone harm you but sometimes, forgive me little one, but sometimes, I feel like giving up. Yet, your mom really is looking after us, isn't she? She's sending more and more guardian angels to protect you" Nicomaine whispered to Charmaine while caressing her head. She stared for another minute before she gave a heartfelt sigh and kissed the tiny forehead. Charmaine, as if sensing the kiss in her sleep, smiled contentedly.

Nicomaine couldn't help the smile that appeared on her face seeing Charmaine smile in her sleep.

"Yeah. You little charmer you. You will be a heartbreaker someday" she added before finally stepping back. As she straightened, she noticed the very wet spot on her shirt by her  left shoulder. "Aahhh you sneaky little pumpkin! You puked on me again! Ugh! I smell like spoiled milk" Nicomaine complained to no one in particular.

She moved to the master bedroom while taking her shirt off. She spied some of her clothes on the bed earlier, already folded. Thank you Elvira!

She was about to reach for the simple cotton shirt on top of the pile when something stopped her. Call it curiosity but one minute she was standing beside the bed and the next minute she was inside the walk in closet. The closet which still contains Elizabeth's clothes. She looked around and noticed that there are a bunch of brand new clothes hanging, the tags still visible. Nicomaine was so engrossed in checking out the clothes that she didn't hear Richard come in, until he spoke.

"You can throw them all out, you know."

Nicomaine nearly jumped out of her skin upon hearing the deep baritone. She twirled so quickly that she almost fell on her ass.

"Dammit! Why do you have to sneak in on people?"

"I didn't. I made the loudest sound by stomping my feet like a gorilla. I even called your name twice" Richard replied, leaning against the doorframe and crossing his arms across his chest.

"Well! I didn't hear you. You should've at least knocked" Nicomaine huffed indignantly.

"Right. I'll keep that in mind the next time. I'll make sure to knock before I enter my own closet" Richard replied with a smile.

"Your sarcasm is not appreciated" Nicomaine responded with a pout which made Richard smile wider, making his dimple appear deeper.

"But the view is very much appreciated from here" he mumbled.

And that's when Nicomaine realized that she was wearing nothing but her bra. Well at least she's still wearing jeans. And she should feel a little self conscious from the way Richard was staring at her but she doesn't. In fact, the more Richard looked, ogled really, the more she felt empowered, emboldened.

But then she remembered what happened earlier. That's when she lost all her inhibition. She seriously forgot that they really weren't married. She ran the short distance between her and Richard and threw herself at him.

"Are you okay? Oh my gosh! I forgot to ask you! Are you hurt at all?" She fired as she roamed her hands along his sides.

"I'm okay love. I'm fine" Richard reassured.