In Pursuit of His Wife(21)

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."





Eight

In a matter of moments, Nasira went from euphoric to disappointed. "Why is that necessary when we know we can conceive?"

"Because there are many children out there who need homes. We have that  home, two in fact, and enough money to provide a solid future."                       
       
           



       

She pushed out of his lap and turned to look at him. "I truly want a baby who is a part of both of us."

Frustration clouded his expression. "You're a humanitarian, Sira. I  thought the idea of giving an orphan a home would appeal to you. There  are plenty in Eastern Europe."

"It does appeal to me in the future, yet I want to know how it feels to  carry our child to term. As a man, perhaps you find that difficult to  understand."

"I do understand, but I'm only considering your health. Why put you  through the risks of another pregnancy if it's not necessary?"

She worried he would never understand. "The doctor said-"

"I know what the doctor said." Sebastian shot to his feet and began to  pace. "I'm certain they said the same thing to my mother, and we know  how that turned out."

Now she was completely confused. "I do not understand."

He paused to face her again. "No, you don't, because I didn't tell you  the entire set of circumstances behind her death. She was pregnant  because my father insisted she go against medical advice and have  another child."

Shock rendered Nasira momentarily silent. "When did you learn this?"

"At the same time I learned how he was neglecting her health issues right before she died."

"More hearsay from the staff?"

He glanced away. "Yes, but I'm sure they spoke the truth."

"How can you be sure, Sebastian? You were a child yourself. Perhaps you misunderstood."

"I didn't misunderstand," he said, his tone full of anger. "I heard a  reliable source say she'd had several miscarriages and each one took its  toll on her. My father apparently ignored the danger and impregnated  her once again. I will not put you through that."

At some point in time in the near future, Nasira vowed to find out all  the details, no matter what it took. "I am not your mother, Sebastian. I  have had one miscarriage and only one. I have no reason to believe I  could not see the next pregnancy to term. I am willing to take that  chance, and I hope you are as well."

He walked to her and clasped both her hands. "Please don't ask that of  me, Sira. The thought of something happening to you is unbearable. And  to know I would be responsible is inexcusable."

When she saw the vulnerability in his eyes, Nasira realized she might  never break through his fear. A fear she had never witnessed in him  before. She still hung on to a shred of hope that maybe with time, and  more medical intervention, he would come to realize that childbirth  wouldn't detrimental to her health.

She felt compelled to hold him, to tell him all would be well, yet she  felt as though he had erected an invisible wall around himself. "All  right. We will stray from this topic for now and attempt to enjoy the  rest of our evening."

He released a rough sigh. "I'm not certain that is possible."

"It can be. Perhaps we should take a walk."

"I would prefer to stay in for the remainder of the evening."

Normally she would expect an invitation into bed. But this was not a  normal situation, as evidenced by the fatigue in his tone. "If that is  what you wish."

"It is."

She struggled to come up with a plan that might buoy his spirits. She  returned to their mutual past and better days for inspiration. "I have a  proposition."

His smile arrived slowly. "I've always enjoyed a good proposition."

The bad boy billionaire had come back to life. "This involves dessert."

"Interesting you should use that term."

The real Sebastian had arrived, and she felt a modicum of relief. "I  meant dessert as in cake, on the veranda. We have not done that in a  very long time."

He turned her hands over and kissed both her wrists. "Perhaps it's time we begin to recapture what we've lost."

Nasira chose to interpret Sebastian's statement as reclaiming the  routines that had once given them pleasure, aside from lovemaking. She  gently wrested her hands away and walked into the living area to  retrieve the menu.

While she flipped through the selections, Sebastian came up behind her  and peered over her shoulder. "The raspberry truffle cheesecake looks  good," he said. "Shall I order that for us?"