Page 68 of Nico
"I might just change my mind if you continue to interrupt my work."
"Going." He grinned. "I'm incredibly happy for you."
A smile wreathed her face. "So am I."
*****
She waited until she had checked on Gracie and calmed down sufficiently to go downstairs and face him. And she was going to have a damn glass of wine even though it was the middle of the freaking night. She was so angry she was fit to be tied! Marching into their bedroom, she slipped out of her shoes and took off the dress she had worn to the gallery.
She had persuaded him to accompany her to the opening, hadn't she? Dragging off the lovely emerald green silk, she tossed it on the sofa with careless disregard for price and quality. Hadn't she begged him to send Gracie to the main house and attend the opening with her? One month of marriage and he was already getting on her bloody nerves.
Sitting on the edge of the king-sized bed, she peeled off her stockings and tossed them as well. Wearing only the skimpy black silk underwear, she marched over to the cabinet he had had installed and grabbed a bottle of Cabernet. Pouring the wine, she took the glass and went to stand in front of the hearth.
She was there for two minutes when she heard the doors opening. She remained where she was, not turning even when she heard him enter the room.
"Look," he stood in the center of the room and took in the seductive curves, shown to absolutely perfection in the light of the flames. His hands itched to paint her just like that, but he knew he would not dare approach her with that idea after the argument they had earlier. "Gracie had a nightmare, and I had to deal with it on my own. You know that I've been busy with the commission from the mayor. It's taking up a lot of my time and it's not like you need to work."
He could have bitten off his tongue when she whirled to face him, magnificent eyes blazing. Her breasts were trembling beneath the poor excuse for a bra and set his mouth watering. He wanted to cover her body with his and ravish her. But he wisely reined in his rampaging desire.
"You mean you want me to stay home where I belong, catering to your every whims and fancy, is that it? I should take up my place as the wife of Nico Coulter, son and heir to the pharmaceutical empire and very important artist! You're in great demand right now, so I should play the 'little woman' and stay home. Why stop there?" She threw her hands up and he wondered how the wine kept from sloshing over the rim of the glass. "Why not fill my uterus with your seed and have me popping out babies every year? Because that's what I'm good for, isn't it?"
"Don't be ridiculous! You..." He took a step back when she took several steps towards him and carefully considered his next words. Holding up a hand, he took several deep breaths. "Darling..."
"Oh no!" She snapped it out. "You don't get to butter me up right now. You behaved as if Gracie having a nightmare was my fault. I asked you to come with me to the opening and you said no." She finished the wine and slammed the glass down on the bedside table.
"I'm sorry." He dragged restless fingers through his hair. "This assignment is driving me crazy and taking the time I should be spending with you and Gracie. We've just been married for a month, and I'm stuck on this job. You spend most of your time at the gallery."
He shook his head when she opened her mouth to respond. "Please, let me finish." He took a breath. "We need to find a balance. I know Gracie has her grandparents and my sister, but she needs us, her parents. I know the gallery means a lot to you, but still," he sent her a pleading look. "We have to find a balance. We've not been out of the house together since we came back from the honeymoon."
Her anger died an instant death. He was right. His presentation earlier might have been flawed, but he was right, damn him. She had been so caught up in the new commissions coming in, she had managed to put her husband and the little girl she considered her daughter behind. But she was not willing to let him off the hook that easily.
Turning away, she went to drag on a robe. Tomorrow was Sunday and she was planning to have them spend time together as a family.
"Sadie?"
"I'm thinking." She muttered as she crossed to the bed and sat on the edge of it. Her black silk robe gaped open, allowing him a tantalizing view of her breasts and flat stomach. His mouth watered and he wanted to get the fight out of the way so he could show her how sorry he was. He wanted to sink himself deep inside her and never come back out.
"All right," she murmured. "Fine. I'll cut my time at the gallery. But I'm not quitting my job." Her eyes blazed at him. "And if you think you can talk to me..."
"I apologize." He finally bridged the distance between them and hunkered in front of her. "Forgive me baby." Taking her hands in his, he linked their fingers. "I would like to promise you it won't happen again..."
"It had better not." Damn if he wasn't softening her up. The man had the talent of doing just that.
"We're going to fight darling." He stated solemnly. "But I promise we will never go to bed angry." Lifting their joined hands, he brushed his lips on her knuckles. "Like now." Turning her hand over, he pressed his lips to her palm and sent heat shimmering through her body.
"It's not working." She lied haughtily.
"No?" His smug smile told her he knew she was lying. "How about now?"
He trailed his tongue over her flesh and nibbled at her wrist. A smile curved his lips when he heard her sucking in her breath. "Anything?"
She clenched her fingers and closed her eyes. "No."
"I guess I have to work much harder."
"I guess you have to." Her eyes flickered open as he pulled her thumb into his mouth. Lifting his head, he met her gaze and sucked it into his mouth. Her lips parted and her nipples became twin peaks of rock.
"Now?"
