Fifteen minutes later she joined him in the dining room. The hint of pleasure in his eyes made her heart race as she walked to where he held the chair out for her.
They sat down at the table. Iris served dinner before mentioning that Cesare had called to remind him about the English launch of “Valente’s Woman.” Then the older woman left them to eat.
Sasha was curious. “When is the U.K. launch?”
“In a couple of weeks.”
“It’ll do well over there.”
He nodded. “It’ll do well everywhere.”
She had to smile at that.
“What are you smiling at?” he asked.
“Your arrogance.”
His mouth quirked at the corners. “It’s the Valente way.”
“I know.”
Some lazy moments passed while they ate in silence. Sasha was still amazed she was now actually married to Nick Valente. Who would have thought it?
Not her.
Aware she needed to move away from such thoughts, she made herself reflect on how much effort went into launching a new perfume. “You should go with Alex. He may need you with him.”
“Alex can handle it. He and Olivia will make sure it goes off with a bang.”
All at once she didn’t want him staying home for her sake. “Just because we’re newly married doesn’t mean you have to stay home with me.”
His lips twisted. “Are you trying to get rid of me so soon?”
“Of course not. I’m just thinking you have other commitments and being married shouldn’t change that.”
He held her gaze for a moment, then, “If I thought Alex needed me, I’d go. But he doesn’t and frankly, I’d prefer to stay home.”
She noted he didn’t say “stay with her.”
Strangely she was rather glad he wasn’t going away and leaving her alone. She seemed to have had too much aloneness these past few years.
Had he?
She didn’t think so.
They began to talk about the wedding—was it only yesterday?—and before too long Iris was serving dessert, and then not long after, they finished their dinner.
She wondered what was next.…
Coffee?
Tea?
Bed?
“Would you like to watch television?”
She ignored the look in his eyes. He’d known what she was thinking. “That would be nice.” She got to her feet, and Nick stood, too.
“You go ahead and I’ll be with you shortly. I’ve got a couple of calls to make first.”
She felt a smattering of disappointment, but she quickly pushed it aside. Time alone would let her pulse slow back to its normal beat.
An hour later she was still waiting for Nick to join her. Her favorite sitcom hadn’t held her attention, and now a rather boring program was about to start. She could go get her designs and continue working, but she needed a break from them. What’s more, she didn’t want to interrupt Nick in the study. He could be on an important call.
She yawned.
She felt so tired.
Perhaps she’d just close her eyes for a moment or two.
The next thing she knew a pair of strong masculine arms were lifting her up and carrying her. She tried to clear her mind but she felt warm and protected and she just wanted to snuggle closer.
“Nick?”
“Yes.”
It was so hard to open her eyes. “Put me down,” she murmured. “I can walk.”
“No.”
She let out a small sigh. It was too much trouble to argue, especially with her cheek pressed against his chest, his heartbeat beneath it.
He was climbing the stairs now and he smelled so good, his clothes fresh but mixed with his own male scent, his breath retaining a hint of coffee. She’d never been carried by a man before. There was something to be said for all those movies that made it look so romantic being swept off her feet like this.
And then she realized something and she started to giggle. She couldn’t help herself.
At the top he paused to look down at her. “What’s so funny?”
“You’re a little out of breath.”
A gleam of amusement twinkled in his eyes. “Are you saying I’m too old to carry you up the stairs?”
“Would I dare?”
“Yes.”
All at once she noticed his firm mouth curve up at the corners.
His eyes held a certain glitter. “I’m not too old … or out of breath … to make love to you, my sweet,” he murmured, then carried her into their bedroom, kicked the door shut and stood her up against it.
His blue eyes smoldered for her in the lamplight as he bent his head and kissed her. And he kept right on kissing her until it became a game between them that neither would give up. In the end she had to break away to catch her breath.
He gazed at her triumphantly and before too long he’d stripped the clothes from her body and kissed her again in much more intimate places.
And if he was out of breath by the end of it, he didn’t show it. The only thing he showed was a passionate hunger for her that took her by surprise.
Sasha was in the pool when Nick returned early from work the following evening. She’d meant to be showered and changed by now but summer was almost over and she’d wanted to take advantage of the warm weather.
He sat down on the deck chair and loosened his tie, looking handsome but with dark shadows beneath his eyes. She felt guilty for keeping him awake last night, even if it had been mutually beneficial.
She trod water in the middle of the pool. “You look tired.”
He seemed surprised she’d noticed. “Yeah, I guess I am.”
She frowned. “All that driving into the city and back is taking a lot out of you.” Commuting to the city took an hour and a half each way, not to mention putting in a full day’s work.
He shrugged. “I’ll get used to it.”
“You shouldn’t have to, Nick.” She tilted her head at him. “Why don’t you get yourself a driver? Your father’s had one for many years.”
His brow creased in consideration. “Hey, that’s not a bad idea. I could hire a permanent driver and that way I can work while I’m in the car and not waste time.” He gave her a smile. “Good thinking.”
She gave a quick shiver as a late afternoon breeze skipped over her. “Thanks, but I’m sure you would have thought of it yourself.”
His gaze dropped to the water lapping at the top of her breasts. “Probably,” he said, his distracted tone giving the comment less arrogance.
Her nipples tightened beneath the pink bikini top at the sudden sensual look in his eyes.
He stood up and started undoing his shirt.
“Er … what are you doing?”
“Joining you.” He discarded shoes and socks, then his hand went to his belt buckle. Soon he had stripped down to black boxer briefs that fitted him like a second skin, leaving nothing to her imagination.
Her heart thumped erratically. “It’s getting a little cold in here.”
He gave her a wicked grin. “Then I’ll warm you up.”
He dove into the pool and she watched him come toward her in the water like a torpedo. The urge to turn and swim for the other side was strong. The temptation to stay and have her defenses annihilated was more exciting.
In one whoosh he came up close to her body and rose to the surface, so close she felt him like a caress. He shook the water from his face and smiled, his wet hair plastered to his head, his sooty lashes spiked with moisture.
“Fancy meeting you here,” he drawled, looking what he was: a drop-dead gorgeous male who’d caught the biggest fish in the pool.
Her.
Of course, she was the only fish in the pool.
“Yes, fancy that.”
The late afternoon sun showed a mischievous gleam in his eye and all at once she knew he was up to something. “Nick,” she warned, trying to escape, the water hindering rather than helping.
He laughed playfully and caught her by the waist, before lifting her in the air and tossing her backward. She took a breath just as she went under the water, her mind already on sweet revenge.
She’d get him back, she promised herself as she burst through to the surface. “Nick, you’d—” She gasped. “My bikini top’s come off!”
“Really?”
She ignored the relish in his voice and started looking around. Then she saw a pink blob of material near the edge of the pool.
“There it is.” She started to swim toward it, aware that Nick was swimming with her. She thought he was merely trying to help her, until they reached it at the same time and he snatched it up and threw it onto the concrete outside of the pool.
“Nick!” She glared at him as she covered her breasts with her hands.
“What?” His eyes danced with the devil.
“How am I going to get out of the pool now?”
“No one’s around. Iris is in the kitchen and Leo’s gone into Richmond for supplies.”
“I’m not a prude but—”
“Yes, you are.” He chuckled. “Look at you. I know your body intimately now and yet you’re still covering yourself from me.”
“You’re still a stranger, Nick,” she said without thinking.
His smile disappeared. “Am I?” His blue eyes deepened in color. “Then we’d better do something about that.”
Without hesitation, he caught her by the waist and pressed her up against the side of the pool.
And then he kissed her.
At first his lips were cold from the water but they soon turned warm enough to have her melting against him. For long, languid moments she reveled in having his mouth take advantage of hers, but eventually he eased back from the kiss.