Seth's POV

I came back home on a Wednesday evening to find my wife in her pajamas sitting crossed legged with an adorable expression, probably admiring the movie her eyes were fixated on.
Her long hair was tied up in a bun and stray strands of hair lined her face, all I wanted to do was brush them behind her ear.

I didn't have any opinions on an arranged marriage before I took part in one, and since then I've formed one that confirmed that they worked just fine. Yes, since I hadn't professed my undying love to my spouse I couldn't kiss her pouty lips as and when I felt the need to, which was way too frequent. And sure, that did end up frustrating me but I had no over the top qualms.

I would be a fool to not admit my wife was startlingly beautiful, it didn't matter when I saw her, she took my breath away. Her green eyes were like doors to her soul and sometimes I felt like if I look at them for too long, I'd lose myself. And there were times when I had.

I kept surprising myself by the amount I observed her, every little movement she made I took note of. I noticed her eyes shining when she spoke to me about her company and I felt her pain behind the anger when she mentioned her father. It made me angry at the man for hurting her but then I wondered, was the mistake her father made really that bad? It wasn't a conventional marriage but we were holding a much more successful relationship than half the population.

"Hey, you're back. There is some spaghetti in the kitchen. Mrs Rose has gone to visit her son, she'll be back in a week or so." Maeve said and I forced myself to look up from her long legs stretched across the couch. I found it hard to keep my emotions under control when I was around her. I often wondered if she noticed the prolonged stares and found them discomforting.

"Yes, she told me about it a month prior." I removed my tie and coat, placing them on the sofa and took a seat beside Maeve. She was watching a movie I didn't recognise but judging from her expression she was completely engrossed in it.

She wore a pale pink sweater that lined her figure to perfection, bringing my attention to all the places I refused to venture on without her explicit consent- which I knew I didn't have. Her face was towards the television and I took time to admire the contours of it, each dip and rise. Without warning, she turned to face me and I knew my demeanour was of a thief caught stealing.

"Aren't you hungry?" She asked me instead, her eyes taking in my now casual look. I had a few buttons undone and sleeves rolled up to the elbow. I was sure I looked run down in my current state.

"I had dinner at the office, actually." I replied but as soon as I saw her face drop, I back tracked, "but yes, I could do with some spaghetti."
I left the living room to find a plate already made sitting atop the kitchen counter. I frowned at the black olives that sat on the red sauce but soon realisation dawned upon me. Maeve had cooked today, I had a renewed motivation to eat.

Taking one bite of it, the different flavours burst in my mouth, it was sour, spicy and creamy at the same time. Heck, I even enjoyed the olives on it.

"It tastes so amazing." I hummed, Maeve turned around to smile brightly at me, it replaced the flash of uncertainty that clouded her eyes. "Do you want some wine?"
"Yes." She replied, and returned watching the television. I filled two glasses and made my way to her.

"I made the spaghetti." She said, without looking at me. Oh, I know sweetheart.
"It's brilliant, Maeve. I could even say it's better than what I can make." That seemed to surprise my wife, whose attention now was solely on me. I am man enough to admit that being the centre of her attention was nerve-racking, even if it was in a casual setting.

"You can cook?" She asked, keeping her voice neutral. It made it hard for me to assess her emotions attached to it.
"On and off. Believe it or not, Mrs Rose is not always around." I chuckled, settling down in the same spot handing her one glass of wine. It wasn't a lie, my parents would encourage independence in all aspects of life. I did not always have help around at the very beginning. All that being said, I found cooking to be a rather relaxing activity. I wasn't a culinary artist of any kind. Just a master of a dish or two.

"It shocks me that you find time to hone those skills." She said, taking a sip of her wine. I found myself distracted by her lips, the pink now slightly tainted red, it was enticing to say the least. I forced myself to look away, so as to not creep her out, if I hadn't already.

"I wouldn't say I'm a great cook, but there are some dishes that I consider myself an expert in but you seem to be taking that away from me." I grinned, gesturing at the plate.

"I'd love to have food made by you sometime."

"I'd love for that to happen." I sipped the wine and marveled at the combination.
"The spaghetti is going well with the wine." I commented, while the opinion was authentic. My intention was just to keep the conversation flowing. Her attention, apart from being distressing, was addictive.

"Really?" She inched closer perhaps just to test my very low control.

"Yeah, try some." I said.

"I think I will." She took the fork from my hand before I could leave to get one for her and took some spaghetti. She mouth closed around the fork and I cursed myself for looking.

"You're right, it does go well." She said, smiling at me. At that moment, I wanted to just pull her close and kiss her senseless but I turned my attention back to the food instead and devoured it.

"I think I'll go to bed." Maeve announced after finishing her glass. I whispered a goodnight, quite disappointed in myself for not manning up and kissing my own wife.

After she left, I stayed on the sofa for a while, just flipping through channels and not before long my eyes started drooping.
I went to the kitchen and found two wine glasses washed and kept back in their places. I didn't even realise when she took my glass, I placed the plate in the dish washer and called it a night.

Sleeping alone in a king sized bed didn't seem so lonely before the honeymoon, now I spent countless nights wondering if walking across the hall and sleeping beside her would be too forthcoming. Most of the nights during our honeymoon, Maeve slept before me and others; I did. So, we never had the awkward getting in bed together scenario and neither of us move much in our sleep, hence I never found her in my arms in any morning much to my disappointment. Yet, I missed sleeping beside her, my own thoughts left me confused.

I know most people had these issues before marriage, but I didn't mind the way things were playing out. I was getting to know her bit by bit everyday and we had forever to touch the milestones. It had been a while since I felt so calm and happy, if I say so myself.

The next morning was no different than any other except the fact that my wife was cooking in the kitchen wearing her office skirt and a black shirt. I was never a jealous man, but I felt that green monster crawling about in my thoughts when it got anxious about the men that saw her in that outfit.

"Good morning." I said, inhaling the aroma of eggs and bacon. I poured myself some coffee and sat down on the counter.
"Morning." Maeve had her hair pinned up and I wanted to let it fall down her back, I loved the way her hair swayed as she walked, they had a certain bounce in them that was mesmerising.

"It all smells lovely." I said as she placed my breakfast plate before me. We both eat the rest of the breakfast in silence.

The office was fairly eased out that day, with only a couple of bumps on the road. My assistant informed me about a charity ball Maeve and I had to attend and I made a mental note to leave office early for the same.
It was all going smooth till two of my share holders walked in.

"Mr Herondale." I greeted the uncle-nephew duo with a handshake each.
"We came to discuss a few things." After which we got into serious business talk which continued on till five and I realised it was getting late and conveyed the same to my colleagues.

"Seth, we wanted to speak to your wife about investing in her company. We've been hearing it's taken off since she took over." I wasn't sure Maeve would appreciate me meddling with her business. She spoke to me about things but I knew she liked to separate out our relationship and business.

But her company needed investors to grow and it would be a huge deal to have the two men before me to be those investors.

"I am heading home at the moment, you could accompany me and we could meet her there."

*********

Hope everyone is staying safe. :))

Love,

Rojesta