Читать книгу Brides & Bargains - Maureen Child - Страница 14
ОглавлениеThe moment Nasira stepped onto the deck and slipped off the robe, swimming was the last thing on Sebastian’s mind. The suit fit her to perfection, from the low cut of the bodice to the bottoms secured by two ribbons at her rounded hips that accentuated her long torso. Her hair flowed freely, straight and sleek, begging for his touch. When he honed in on the diamond hoop at her navel, her attempt at rebellion during her brief university days, he had fond memories of playing with the bauble with his tongue...as well as other more intimate places now covered by a small fabric triangle. That alone caused him to move down one stair to conceal the result of his sinful thoughts.
He had to remember to take it slowly, let the evening progress with no expectations in terms of lovemaking. He needed to concentrate on making his wife feel appreciated and respected, even if it meant using his tongue solely to talk for the time being.
Unfortunately his randy libido seemed to be speaking much louder than his honor. He would simply have to quiet the urges and not appear as impatient as a lustful schoolboy.
Down, Henry.
When Nasira stuck her toe in the deep end of the pool to test the water, even that seemed overtly sexy to Sebastian. And when she executed a perfect dive, surfaced not far from him and slicked her hair back from her gorgeous face, he gritted his teeth to keep from going after her like a lion and a gazelle.
“Bravo,” he said as she waded toward him. “You’re a regular little mermaid.”
She lifted her hair to secure the tie at her neck. “I almost had equipment failure when I dove in. Could you have not found something a bit more modest?”
At the moment he realized that might have worked better in light of his burgeoning erection. But then again, probably not. She could be wearing a heavy trench coat and he would still want her, especially if she were nude beneath it. He would like very much for her to be nude beneath him. Or perhaps on top of him. Standing up against the deck would also work to his satisfaction...
“Have you been rendered mute, Sebastian?”
For the most part, yes. “I’m sorry. Did you ask me something?”
“Never mind.” She joined him on the step, keeping a relatively safe distance between them. “The housekeeper turned down my bed. Did you notice if she is still here?”
No, but he did notice that if the bikini were a bit lower, he could possibly see her nipples. “I’m almost certain she performed those tasks while we were away.”
Sira leaned forward, causing the top to gape and allowing him the view again. “It would probably behoove us to check.”
“That might be breast.” Dammit. “I mean best.”
She sent him a mock scolding look. “I have barely been in here five minutes and you are already misbehaving.”
Guilty. “It was only a verbal faux pas, Sira.”
“Then take care to mind your mouth.”
And he did...by planting it on her mouth, disregarding his earlier cautions about going slowly. He expected she might shove him away, or perhaps push him into the water, yet she joined in as if she needed this as badly as he did.
After they parted, she tipped her head against his forehead. “I hate that I am so helpless around you.”
He lifted her chin and forced her to look at him. “You are not helpless in the least, and you are not an innocent. You are as drawn to the devil in me as I am the vixen in you.”
“So you think.”
“So I know.”
He loosened the ties at her neck but paused before he went further. “Tell me you do not want me and I’ll stop.”
“I... cannot.”
Which was all the encouragement Sebastian needed to continue. He removed her top, tossed it aside and then toyed with the band riding low on her hips. “Stop now?”
She released a ragged sigh. “No.”
After he slid her bottoms away and draped them on the chrome railing, he led her into waist-deep water and kissed her, his hands roving over her breasts. She soon pulled away, moved back and smiled. “The vixen says take off your bathing suit.”
“Far be it for me to argue with her,” he said as he shoved down his trunks, stepped out of them with effort, and hurled them onto the deck.
She crooked her finger at him. “Come here, devil.”
They came together in another blast of heat, of that passion they’d known from the beginning. She scraped her nails down his back, while he attacked her neck with kisses and brought her legs up around his waist. It would be so easy to take her here, take her now, yet the nagging concerns over pregnancy prevented him from doing so. He should have brought the blasted condoms with him.
“Do it,” she whispered with desperation as she reached beneath the water, took his erection in hand, and guided it inside her.
Driven by pure lust and need, he thrust into her, twice, before he gathered every ounce of strength and pulled out. “The bedroom,” he managed around his labored respiration.
She looked at him and blinked twice. “Why?”
“More privacy.” A lame excuse but the only one he could provide without completely destroying the mood.
“All right,” she said as she lowered to her feet. “But hurry.”
That request he could categorically fulfill, and he did as he took her by the hand and led her to the chaise on the pool deck. They wrapped up in the towels he’d brought, periodically kissing and intimately touching as they headed into the house. Once they reached the corridor leading to the guest suite, he paused and backed her against the wall immediately outside the door to his quarters.
He wanted her to remember this, to know how badly he wanted her, to make her want him as much. He parted the towel and suckled her breasts, first one, then the other, before sliding his lips down her torso.
Then he went to his knees, nudged her legs apart and sent his mouth on a mission between her thighs. He used his tongue to divide her warm flesh, tracing circles around and around that intimate spot, intent on driving her wild.
She bowed over him, running her hands over his scalp, her breaths coming in short pants. She dug her nails into his back so deeply, he thought she might have drawn blood. He didn’t care. Giving her pleasure was well worth the pain.
“Sebastian.” His name came out of her mouth in a harsh whisper as he stroked her with his tongue softly, then harder as he covered her completely with his mouth and suckled that sweet spot.
Her legs began to tremble and a low, sexual sound filtered out of her as she began to orgasm. He didn’t let up until he had ridden out every pulse of the climax, then he kissed his way back up her beautiful body.
She reached for him again and demanded, “Now.”
“Not yet,” he said as he clasped her wrist to still her hand. Otherwise the act would be over in short order.
Without protesting, Nasira followed him into his bedroom. While she turned down the comforter, he opened the nightstand drawer and retrieved the silver packets. He turned and found her stretched out on her back on the bed, her damp hair a sexy, tangled mess, her knees bent in preparation for him. Yet when she spied the condoms in his grasp, she suddenly sat up on the edge of the mattress and lowered her eyes.
After laying the packets on the side table, he claimed the space beside her and rested a hand on her bare leg. “I realize this isn’t what you want, but under the circumstance, it’s a necessity.”
Her gaze snapped to his, the haze of desire completely gone. “Is it?”
“We still have much to discuss in regard to that issue, by your own admission.”
She pushed her hair back from her face. “Yes, you’re right, but the reminder of our impasse took me aback for a moment. I suppose I simply wanted to forget our dilemma this evening. I wish you could have held off with the condoms a bit longer.”
Frustration brought him to his feet to face her. “This wouldn’t have been a bloody issue if you’d started taking the pill again.”
“As I’ve said, I had no reason to do that when you were so bent on ignoring me.” She pinched the bridge of her nose and momentarily closed her eyes. “I am so angry.”
“At me?”
“At myself. I have walked into the same trap, succumbing to your charisma and allowing you to lead me away from our problems.”
Now he was angry. “I did nothing of the sort. We are husband and wife and we should thank our lucky stars we still want each other so fiercely after ten years of marriage.”
She let loose with a cynical laugh. “Of course you would see it that way. But sex is not a cure-all for serious marital problems.”
If she only realized that was the only way he knew how to communicate his true feelings for her. The right words had never come easily for him. Neither had acknowledging his emotions. “Why can you not be happy with what we have? Why do you see the need to change everything?”
She pulled the sheet up to cover herself. “Because we cannot be truly happy unless we fix what is broken. Only until you open up to me completely can we move past our problems.”
He knew where she was going, and he didn’t want to bloody go there. “I’ve told you more about my mother’s death than I’ve ever told another soul.”
“Yet you have not told me everything, Sebastian. Aside from your father’s careless disregard and your guilt over your last moments with your mother, there is something else keeping you from committing to fatherhood.”
He clenched his jaw against the litany of curses threatening to spill out. “You have no idea what I went through.”
She stood and leveled her gaze on him. “Then tell me all of it. Make me understand.”
He didn’t dare. “I am going to take a shower.”
He turned to retire to the bath, only to have her call him back. “When will you stop running away, Sebastian?” she asked. “When it is too late for us?”
The words impaled him like a knife to his heart. “You’re asking too much of me tonight, Sira. If it’s too difficult for you to be intimate with me, then by all means, retire to your blessed bed and I’ll stay in mine alone. If you happen to change your mind, then it will be up to you to come to me. In the meantime, I’ll not bother you again.”
And this time, he vowed to stay true to his word.
* * *
He had not spoken to her for two days. In fact, Nasira had barely seen her husband except in passing. He had spent much of his time in his quarters, sequestered away with his laptop.
Today that would come to an end, if she had any say in the matter. She had given him a wide berth to think about what she had said, but they had come to a crossroads. His time was up.
She opened the door to his bedroom without knocking, only to find him packing. A blinding fear overcame her, then resignation that perhaps she had pushed him too hard.
He afforded her only a glance while he placed a suit in the garment bag without speaking.
“Are you returning to London?” she asked, expecting an affirmative answer.
“No. I’m going to Dallas,” he said, shattering her expectations, and filling her with relief.
She moved closer to the bed, but not too close. “Why Dallas?”
He dropped a few toiletries into a small carry-on bag. “I’ve managed to secure an invitation to an importers conference.”
She folded her arms around her middle. “How long do you intend to be gone?”
He zipped the case and placed it on a bench at the end of the footboard. “I’ll return tomorrow afternoon.”
“Did it occur to you to invite me along?”
He sent her a sideways glance. “You’d be bored.”
“I have attended these functions with you before.”
He zipped the garment bag and turned. “Yes, you have, but that was before I knew you considered me a closed-off bastard who runs at the first sign of trouble.”
“You ran from me the other night. You ran after I lost the baby.”
He dropped onto the edge of the mattress and forked his hands through his hair. “Perhaps you’re right.”
It was an admission she thought she would never hear. She sat down beside him on the bed. “I am not willing to give up on us yet, Sebastian. I would like to accompany you on this trip and we will go from there.”
“Well, I’ve always enjoyed having a beautiful wife at my side.”
That ruffled her feminine feathers. “I do not want to go as your arm ornament. I want to be there as your equal. You have never viewed me as that.”
He appeared extremely confused. “Where is this coming from?”
“Well, if we want to sincerely work on our marriage, then I think it’s best to be honest. Many times I have asked about the company, and you brushed me off.”
“I never thought you were interested in that part of my life.”
“It should be part of my life as well. After all, my father was just as immersed in the shipping world. I might not have finished my degree, but I observed all aspects of the operation. I possibly know as much about it as you do.”
Now Sebastian looked skeptical. “You mean that riveting world of routes, imports and exports, and shipping containers?”
“Yes, and the importance of making connections. I am quite capable of doing that. In fact, I’ll wager I will make at least two this evening if I go with you.”
“I’ve always enjoyed a good wager. And if you succeed, I will give you whatever you desire.”
“Anything?”
“Within reason.”
That probably eliminated her request for a child. “And if I do not succeed?”
“I will only ask that you be patient with me. I’m not good at all this sharing-my-feelings rubbish.”
An odd facet of their relationship suddenly struck Nasira. “Do you realize that up until six months ago, we rarely ever argued?”
He seemed to mull that over for a minute. “You are absolutely right. Perhaps that is because you are perfect.”
He sounded strangely sincere. “Of course that is a fallacy.”
“Not to me.”
“Sebastian, I know I have some habits that must drive you batty.”
He rubbed his chin. “It is rather disconcerting when you rearrange my bureau drawers.”
“Guilty as charged. Can you not do better than that?”
“You laugh at all my randy jokes.”
“How is that an imperfection?”
“Because no one else bothers. That possibly indicates a severe lack of judgment, or perhaps bad taste.”
That made her smile. “What else?”
“You bring me a drink when I’m harried after a long day.”
“Again, I do not see the problem with that.”
“Perhaps I prefer to fetch my own drink.”
“Do you?”
He grinned. “No. The truth of the matter is, Sira, nothing you do drives me to complete distraction. Actually, that’s not the truth. I’m very distracted when you walk into the room, wearing nothing but a smile, and when you wake up beside me with your hair tousled and a sleepy look on that gorgeous face. You distracted me the other night from my goal.”
“Yes, I realized I ruined that goal, yet you have to know that was not my intent. I feel horrible we did not make love.”
He took her hand in his. “I meant my goal to convince you I care beyond making love to you. I want another opportunity to prove that.”
“I want that as well.” And she did. “And I truly want to go with you to Dallas.”
“All right, as long as you understand I only have a one-bedroom suite with a king-size bed. Of course, I suppose I could see if they have another room for you.”
She shook her head. “That isn’t necessary.”
Looking extremely pleased, he patted her thigh and stood. “The jet is waiting so you should pack. Do you have a cocktail dress for the reception?”
She came to her feet and frowned. “Do birds fly?”
He softly touched her face. “Yes, they do, and I look forward to watching you fly tonight.”
But Nasira feared that by hanging on to the marriage, she might eventually fall.
* * *
Sebastian spotted her standing across the crowded room. She wore a formfitting sleeveless black silk gown with matching heels, her wrists bedecked with diamond bracelets and her sleek hair flowing down her back. Her slender hands moved gracefully as she spoke with an older gentleman who appeared completely enthralled by the conversation, and her.
Sebastian couldn’t recall the last time Nasira looked so very beautiful. Correction. He could. The first night he’d seen her at an event much like the one tonight. Also on their wedding day when she had been dressed in white satin and looked like the exotic princess she was, albeit a somewhat wary princess due to their spontaneous decision to marry. Perhaps he had rescued her that day from the clutches of her father’s idea of a suitable spouse, but she had saved him from a life of loneliness.
“That’s one looker right there.”
Sebastian turned to his right to find a portly man with thinning hair clutching a martini and staring at Nasira with lust. “That happens to be my wife.”
“I know,” the miscreant said. “I just spent the last thirty minutes listening to her singing your praises. By the way, I’m Milt Appleton with M.A. Imports.”
Sebastian downed the rest of his scotch then eyed the man’s offered hand and reluctantly shook it. “Pleasure, I’m sure.” Or not.
“Anyway,” Milt said. “I’m looking for a shipping company that can handle my European routes. Your girl convinced me I should consider going with you.” He pulled a business card from the inside of his coat pocket. “Here’s my information. Give me a shout in the next day or two.”
Sebastian took the card and pocketed it. “I will be in touch soon.”
Milt pointed at Nasira and narrowed his eyes. “And take care of that one. She’s one in a million.”
Sebastian had begun to realize the absolute accuracy of that statement. She was graceful, intelligent, resolute and reliable to a fault. She had always been there when he needed her, and he had repaid her by not being there when she had needed him. Now that he finally got it, he had to figure out what to do about it. One idea came to mind, a simple gesture that would demonstrate how much she meant to him, even if he felt he could not give her the child she still desired.
On that thought, he crossed the massive room and came to her side. “I lost track of you for a moment, darling.”
She presented a smile. “I have been conversing with this lovely gentleman. Sebastian, this is Mr. Walker. Mr. Walker, my husband, Sebastian Edwards, owner and CEO of the shipping company I mentioned. Darling, Mr. Walker is quite interested in the services you have to offer.”
At least this one didn’t seem to be interested in the services his wife could provide. “A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Walker,” he said as he stuck out his hand.
“The pleasure is all mine,” the man replied. “I’ve given my information to your wife and we’ll discuss the particulars later. Speaking of wives, I should find mine. Have a good evening, you two.”
After the aged businessman hobbled away, Sebastian slid his arm around Nasira’s waist. “Clearly I have lost our two-contacts wager since I was recently confronted by your first contact, the lecherous Milt.”
“He’s harmless,” Nasira said.
“And flirtatious, I gather.”
“Slightly, yet nothing I could not handle.”
Sebastian glanced to his right. “Would you care to dance?”
She looked at him as if he had lost all reason. “This is not a cotillion, Sebastian. It’s a cocktail party.”
“I hear music coming through the speakers and I believe I spy a dance floor.”
She followed his gaze toward the bar before bringing her attention back to him. “Yes, that seems to be a dance floor. With no one using it.”
He clasped her hand. “Then perhaps it’s time to get this dance party started.” When she began to protest, he pressed her lips with a fingertip. “Let’s be bold for a change. Let’s show them the portrait of two people who do not give a tinker’s damn what anyone thinks.”
Her grin came out of hiding. “Let’s.”
* * *
After Sebastian guided her onto the modest wooden dance floor, Nasira walked into his arms. Yet when she noticed several people staring, she immediately went rigid.
“Relax,” Sebastian whispered.
“How can I when we are making a spectacle of ourselves?”
“If anyone takes exception, it’s only because they’re jealous.”
She reared back and leveled her gaze on him. “Jealous of two people who are clearly wacko?”
“Jealous of me for having such a remarkable wife. Jealous of you because you are the most beautiful woman in the room. In the world, in my opinion.”
“If you put it that way...”
Deciding to ignore the attention, Nasira rested her cheek against Sebastian’s shoulder and swayed in time to the soft sounds of a bluesy instrumental. She relished the feel of his strong arms holding her close, the aromatic scent of his cologne, his skill. She had learned that he was a great dancer the first night they had met, when he had asked her to dance at the gala, much to her father’s chagrin, whose cautions had gone unheeded. When she took inventory of her life and the decision she had made, only one regret remained. A dream she might have to disregard to keep her marriage intact.
Sebastian suddenly stopped moving and only then did she realize the music had stopped, and they were now surrounded by several other couples who had taken to the floor.
Her husband presented a proud smile. “See? We have started a trend.”
She laughed with pure joy. “Yes, we have.”
“Shall we dance again, fair lady?”
She had something else in mind. “Actually, unless you care to stay, I would rather return to our room.”
He made a show of checking his watch. “It’s still early. We could have a late dinner.”
Obviously he did not approve of her plan for some unknown reason. “I have had enough appetizers to last for several days.”
“I have not.”
“Room service is still available.”
“True. I will gladly accompany you to our quarters, as long as this does not entail heavy conversation.”
That would come later. Much later. “Agreed.”
Reclaiming her hand, Sebastian led her through the lobby to the glass elevator that would take them to the executive floor. They entered the deserted car and took in the plethora of city lights dotting the Dallas skyline as they ascended. Unfortunately the view left Nasira breathless, and not in a welcome way.
As if he sensed her trepidation, Sebastian wrapped his arms around her from behind and held her close. “I’m right here, sweetheart.”
She leaned back against him. “I know, and admittedly it is a nice panorama.”
He brushed her hair aside and kissed her cheek. “At least this time you’re keeping your eyes open to enjoy it.”
“You take good care of me, Sebastian.”
“You deserve it, Sira. You deserve everything your heart desires.”
If only he could agree to give her the most important of her heart’s desires. Nevertheless, she wanted to spend the evening in a lighthearted mood with no old recriminations to intrude on their time together. She also intended to bask in the glory of winning the wager about making connections at tonight’s party, and if good fortune prevailed, convince him to allow her to take an active role in the business. If she could not immediately become a mother, she could certainly establish a career beyond charity work.
Those plans began to fully form as they entered the penthouse suite a few moments later. She immediately crossed the suite and walked into the bedroom with Sebastian trailing behind her. Once there, she removed her jewelry then fished through her pocket and withdrew the best part of her plan.
She turned to find her husband seated in the club chair next to the sliding glass doors leading to the veranda, his hands draped on the chair arms as if he were the king of the castle.
She approached and offered him a handful of business cards. “Here are a few more contacts.”
He took the stack and looked through them before regarding her again. “You are amazing.”
She smiled. “Yes. Yes I am.”
He set the cards aside and returned her smile. “I’m glad you have finally come to that conclusion.”
She perched on the edge of the mattress opposite him. “I am teasing. I simply struck up a few conversations and that led to mentioning the company and what we have to offer.”
“We?”
She prepared to plead her case. “Yes. I assume that since I made the effort, I should be rewarded with a measure of involvement. Also, three of the contacts are women and it would only be natural that I would be the best candidate to communicate with them. Of course, I would have to be allowed access to the contracts and the shipping routes...”
He effectively cut off her thoughts when he reached over, clasped her arms, pulled her up and brought her into his lap. “You have done a superb job,” he began. “And you definitely deserve to be rewarded.”
She could not resist rolling her eyes. “Exactly what do you have in mind?”
He pressed a kiss on her cheek and suddenly looked very serious. “I want to give you what you want most.”
She clung to hope and prepared to be disappointed. “You know what I want most, yet you have been adamant about not giving it to me.”
“I’ve had a change of heart.”
Did she dare utter the word? No. She had learned not to assume. “Please end the suspense and say it.”
“I want to give you a child.”
This almost seemed too good to be true. “Are you certain?”
“Yes. As long as we adopt.”
