The C.O.O. Must Marry Read online

  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.

  “Still think of me as a stranger?” he said, a very masculine expression of satisfaction on his face.

  A minute ago she’d felt very feminine, but now his words brought her back to reality and she didn’t feel in the least like being coquettish. “There’s more than knowing a person physically, Nick.”

  His face closed up. “It’ll do for now,” he said and turned away. “Stay here. I’ll get us some robes.”

  Sasha watched him heave himself out of the water and stride over to the cabana, all male muscle and sinew. She swallowed hard. What on earth had made her say something so deep like that? Maybe she really was a prude and saying that had been her only defense?

  He came out wearing a thick white robe and carrying one for her. “I’ll cover you as you get out.”

  Thankful he was still being conscious of her sensitivity, she began climbing up the ladder. It was probably silly to be overreacting but she’d never been one to flaunt her body outrageously and merely because she was no longer a virgin didn’t change her way of thinking.

  Just as she reached the top of the ladder she looked up in time to see Nick’s eyes flicking over her naked breasts. Unable to stop herself, she flushed.

  “Put your arms in here,” he said huskily, an
d she did as she was told, feeling more secure once she had the robe cinched in at the waist.

  Nick cleared his throat and stepped away from her. “It’s still balmy. Would you like to have dinner out here?”

  She’d half-expected him to make some excuse to retire to the study. After all, he’d frozen up when she’d started talking about feelings. Fool that she was! The last thing she needed to bring out in the open was any sort of feelings.

  To hide her surprise, she pushed back her wet hair. “That would be lovely.”

  “Good. I’ll tell Iris.”

  “And I’ll go dress.”

  “Let’s not bother.”

  “Er…okay.”

  He started toward the house, detoured slightly and stopped to pick up something, then came back and handed her the pink bikini top.

  Their eyes met and she blushed. “Thanks.”

  “You’re welcome.” He turned and walked back toward the house.

  She watched him for a moment with her heart thudding, unable to stop herself from admiring those firm legs beneath the bathrobe. She liked the dark hair that was just-so-manly and just-so-touchable and if she dared, when he came back she would love to run her palms up his legs, caressing them, caressing him.

  All at once she realized she was squeezing her bikini top. Giving it one last squeeze she dropped it in the pocket of her robe, then went to sit down at the table, her own legs kind of shaky.

  And he’d called her a prude?

  Not any longer.

  A few minutes later Nick came back. “Iris will bring out dinner shortly. In the meantime…” He held out two glasses of wine and passed one to her, then went to sit in the chair opposite.

  Made selfconscious by her thoughts, she looked away, pretending to concentrate on the guest cottage and glasshouse that could easily been seen from here. Mercifully, the gazebo where they’d shared their kiss was on the other side of the house.

  The sound of clinking glass from behind told Sasha that Iris had come out on the patio area. She turned around and smiled as the other woman came toward them pushing a trolley. Before too long she’d left and Sasha and Nick were tucking into their steak and salad.

  “How are the designs going?”

  She glanced up and saw he’d noticed the paperwork on one of the small tables. She’d been working on them before deciding to take a swim.

  “Really well.” She hesitated. “Would you like to look over them after dinner?”

  “Sure.”

  After that she turned the conversation to some of the problems she was having with one of the contractors, then they began to talk of the family and other general things.

  Nick stood up as soon as they’d both finished eating, and walked over to her designs. Sasha followed him, her heart thumping, wondering if he’d like them. She’d gone to great lengths making sure everything suited the house just right.

  “I’m very impressed with these. You’ve kept the charm of the place without taking too much away from it all.”

  A swell of relief filled her. “My intention was never to make major changes. I love this place as it is, too, Nick.”

  His eyes riveted on her face. “Yes, I can see that.”

  She flushed with pleasure, feeling her cheeks turn almost the same pink as the bikini she wore.

  Or didn’t wear, she mused, pulling the robe tighter over her breasts, seeing his gaze drop to where she pretended she wasn’t naked underneath.

  “You surprise me,” he murmured, lazy seduction seeping into those blue eyes. “I’d have thought you’d put your bikini top back on.”

  All at once she felt a touch defiant. “Maybe I’m not quite the prude you think I am.”

  Taking her by surprise, he placed the tip of his finger at her chin. “Hmm, maybe not,” he murmured, sending her heartbeat thudding into a mad gallop. Then his finger slithered down her throat to rest on her wildly beating pulse. “You look so damn sexy in that robe.”

  She moistened her lips. “Nick—”

  “I could strip it off you here and now and you wouldn’t stop me…would you?”

  She was very much afraid he was right.

  “And I could slide those tiny bikini bottoms off you and you wouldn’t say a word…true?”

  Heavens, yes! He could take her this very moment and she’d let him. He made her want to do things she normally didn’t do.

  How she wished she could lie. “Nick, you know you’re right but—”

  He dropped his hand away from her throat. “But?”

  “Afterwards I would feel totally embarrassed if I thought Iris or Leo had seen us.”

  His eyes filled with satisfaction. “So you are a prude?”

  She started to frown. “Are you pleased because I’ve admitted it? Or because you’re right?”

  “Both. I like to win.”

  And he would never give in until he did, she was sure.

  Suddenly he said, “I can’t help who I am, Sasha.”

  She looked at him and saw no apology, just a simple statement that made her succumb to her need for him. No, he couldn’t help being who he was.

  “Nick, please. Take me to bed.”

  Five

  E very evening after that was like a mini-honeymoon for the rest of the week. The weather remained quite warm and Nick would come home and they’d swim in the pool, eat a lazy dinner until dark, then retire to the bedroom.

  There Sasha learned she wasn’t really a prude at all. She’d just needed to let go of her inhibitions, and with Nick’s instructions she did.

  And her heart was still intact.

  Then one morning she ended up walking past Nick’s old bedroom and for some reason she stopped and went in. The room had a large bed and furnishings befitting a teenager of wealth, done out in shades of light and dark brown. On the dresser there were school trophies for cricket, soccer and swimming.

  She wasn’t sure what she expected to find, but there was something more here, something that made her believe Nick was much deeper than she had previously believed.

  She just didn’t know what that was.

  And perhaps it was best she didn’t find out.

  Let him be who he was, and leave it at that. She didn’t want any more complications in her life.

  And speaking of complications, Sasha got a sinking feeling in her stomach when her mother arrived a few hours later right at lunchtime, supposedly to see how things were going. There was nothing for it but to invite her mother to lunch. Not that she minded. It was just that today she seemed to have an agenda.

  And Sasha had the feeling it was to do with her father.

  “So, you’ve recovered from the wedding?” Sally asked as they sat down to a light lunch.

  “Yes, I have.” Until this moment Sasha hadn’t let herself be upset that her mother hadn’t called since the wedding. Nick’s mother had managed to call several times.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t phone you, darling,” Sally said, as if reading her daughter’s mind. “I just thought it best I leave you to…adapt.”

  Sasha gave a remote smile. “Thanks.”

  “Darling, it’s always good to leave a newly married couple to their own devices.”

  “Is that what the wedding manuals say?” she muttered, then felt bad when she saw the crushed looked on her mother’s face. “Mum, I’m sorry. All this has been a bit of a strain. I never expected to get married. Not for a long time anyway.”

  Sally nodded. “It’s okay. I understand. But please remember that you’ve made your father and me so happy. I love that he’s smiling again.”

  Ignoring the thought that her father probably had a new girlfriend, Sasha squeezed her mother’s hand. “Then I’m glad.”

  Sally’s grateful smile turned to a frown. “Darling, there is one thing…” she began, making Sasha tense. “There seems to be some sort of delay in closing the deal with Cesare. Your father can’t wait much longer, I’m afraid.”

  “They’re pretty busy with the launch in t
he U.K. and all, I’d imagine.”

  Come to think of it, she wasn’t sure of the reason for the delay herself.

  “I was sort of hoping you could ask Nick. Not straight out, mind you. Just see if there’s a problem and what it is. I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t so important.”

  Sasha swallowed. “Mum, this is an awkward position you and Dad are putting me in.”

  Again.

  Her mother didn’t seem to notice. “Nick’s your husband. He’ll tell you everything.”

  There were just so many things a mother could ask a daughter to do. “Nick and I are not in love, Mum. He keeps things to himself. I can’t guarantee anything.”

  “If you could just try, darling.”

  Sasha sighed. “Okay, I’ll see what I can do.”

  Her mother left straight after the meal, probably in case she said anything to change her daughter’s mind. Sasha saw her off with a heavy heart. She loved her mother dearly but she’d never understand her love for a man, which totally submerged her own personality.

  That would never happen to her.

  Never.

  And to prove it to herself, she would broach the dreaded subject with Nick at dinner this evening.

  “My mother stopped by for lunch today.”

  Nick looked up from his meal and felt pleased for Sasha’s sake. “Good. I don’t think you’ve heard from her since the wedding, have you?”

  “She’s been busy.”

  “I’m sure.” No doubt looking after Porter’s every whim.

  And at the expense of her daughter, Nick thought with a frown, surprised at the lack of attention Sally had actually given Sasha since their marriage. Wasn’t a mother supposed to fuss over a newlywed daughter? Or was he just being a bit too old-fashioned?

  Sasha moistened her mouth. “My mother does have a concern, though. She thought I might be able to help.”

  “And that is?”

  “My father’s waiting on a shipping deal to go through with the House of Valente, and apparently it’s been delayed. He’s not sure why.”

  Nick leaned back in his chair, and his lips twisted. “And he’s sent his wife to ask my wife why?”