Page 5 of Nico
The kiss took on a madness that swept through them like a tsunami. Easing her down his body, he ended the kiss and swept her into his arms.
"It has to be now," he whispered harshly.
*****
"Sorry for the mess." He trailed his fingers up and down her back as he tried to even out his breathing. They had just indulged themselves in a very active bout of lovemaking, which had his heart racing and his blood tingling.
"I take it the housekeeper gave up again?" She was content to be with him like this. At first, she had sneaked away, in order to go home. But after the first couple of nights, he had persuaded her to stay.
"Spending an entire night with me does not mean we're living together," he pointed out.
Yanking on her hair, he tugged her face up so he could see her eyes. "Is that a dig in there?"
"Absolutely."
"I thought so." He grinned disarmingly. "I have no idea what I'm doing wrong."
"You look so innocent saying that," she told him dryly. "You're officially a slob."
He looked injured. "I prefer to think of it as creative backlash."
"What does that even mean?"
"It means my sarcastic critique, that we creative souls work so hard to create, we do not find time to put things in their proper places." He looked around the room and grimaced at the piles and bits of pieces of his tools lying around drunkenly. Clotheshe had not bothered to put away were piled on a very attractive tan sofa in one corner. He had chosen to live in the pool house, transforming one of the rooms to suit his specifications where he could work without having to leave to get a drink of water or something to eat. More times than he could count, he would forget to have a meal.
"My place is as neat as a pin."
His eyes swung back to her face. "Are you disturbed by the mess?"
"A little bit."
"I tried to clean up for you."
"I take it that did not go well?"
He tugged her hair. "Shows how much I think of you to start in the first place. Mother came over and I'm sure she's going through her list to find me a dragon who can do the work and intimidate me."
"And you're so easily intimidated," she teased.
"Precisely." He played with the ends of her hair for a few seconds as he gathered his thoughts. "There's a thing next Sunday. Some sort of fall gala, a charity Mother is in charge of. Black tie and such." He lifted his eyes to hers. "I would very much like it if you would accompany me."
"Nico..."
"I could spring for the dress." He held up a hand as her eyes spit fire. She allowed him to buy her little trinkets, but nothing more. She did not need his money and told him that point blank. "I will not have your family thinking I'm a damn gold digger."
"I'd like you there with me. I hate going to these things, but you there will make it bearable."
Her eyes narrowed. "And put us further into the spotlight."
"Yes." He kept his eyes on her face. "We're after all in a relationship." Frustration was rife in his deep voice. "It's time you accepted that."
"Really?" The edge in her voice warned him that her temper was building, but at this point he did not care.
His bottle green eyes challenged her. "Yes, really. I want to take you out on dates, goddammit. We've been seeing each other for several months now and I consider you as my..." He gestured with one hand. "You're going to remind me not to put labels on what we have here, but I'm going to risk your anger by saying that you're my woman."
"Is that so?" She was not sure she minded the term one bit and that was saying something.
"Yes." His fingers tugged at her hair not too gently. "Absolutely, one hundred percent yes. We're exclusive..."
