Page 15 of Nico (Members From Money Season 2, #154)

"That's good." He stared at the man and felt the almost violent need to smash his face in.

His blue eyes were twinkling and worst, Jesus!

Much worse was the fact that he had his arm around her waist. The violence erupted inside him like a geyser.

He had to take a step back and prayed for calm.

It would not do to create a scene here. And he was not a man who ever created one, until now.

"Could you tell me..."

"I need to speak to you." He swung his gaze back to Sadie, his expression resolute.

"Perhaps later." She dug her fingers into Robert's arm and felt her heart hammering.

"Now, Sadie. I need to speak to you." He flicked a glance at the man. "Excuse us, will you?"

She thought about refusing but had never seen Nico like this before. His face was hard and determined, his jaw rigid. She had a feeling if she did not agree to see him, he was going to cause a scene.

"I can give you five minutes." Turning her head, she smiled at Robert and prayed that she could keep up the charade. "I'll be with you shortly."

He looked from one to the other and then nodded and stepped away.

"This way." She wove her way through the throng of people who did nothing to disguise the fact that they were avidly taking in the drama.

Shoving the door to her office open, she whirled around as he closed the door.

"Say what you have to say and let me get on with my work. In case you have not noticed, there is a function going on and I should be in there."

"Who the hell is the guy?"

Her chin lifted. "We're involved."

He thought he could not hurt much more, but he was wrong. He simply stared at her. "You're seeing someone? We just broke up a month ago."

"Six weeks." She could have bitten off her tongue for making it seem as if she was counting the days. "Besides, it's none of your business."

"You certainly moved fast." The bitterness in his deep voice moved her.

"I saw no reason to wait."

"Are you sleeping with him?"

She turned to go behind her desk. "That's none of your business." She braced herself when he marched towards her.

"Please don't touch me."

"Why the hell not?" His hands snaked out to grip her shoulders. "You used to like it."

"Please don't do this."

"I miss you."

"You have other priorities..."

"It's not enough. I cannot sleep..." He was drawing her towards him, and she knew if she did not stop him, it was going to be too late.

"Robert and I are serious." She knew she sounded desperate but did not care. "I've moved on."

"Let's see, shall we?" His voice was grim, his fingers like tentacles as they bit into her skin.

She was powerless to stop him and when he hauled her up against him and crushed his mouth to hers, she was helpless.

Capturing the moan inside his mouth, he plunged his tongue in and felt as if he was driven by the storm erupting inside him.

His hands raced down her back to cup her bottom.

When he eased her against him, she felt the heat spiraling and racing through her body like an electric storm.

Her hands came up to grip his shoulders as if trying to anchor herself.

And then wandered to his neck and the thick hairs at the nape of his neck.

He devoured her. The taste and scent of her assailed his nostrils and he yearned for more.

He wanted her, needed her more than he needed to live.

Switching positions, he dropped into the chair and brought her down in his lap.

His hands cupped her breasts, dipping into her bosom to cup her flesh.

The feel of her rigid nipples had him groaning.

Lifting his lips from hers, he trailed them over her cheek and her neck and throat.

Her back arched, giving him access to her breasts.

With a feral growl, he tugged the nipple inside his mouth and had her calling out his name.

Her body erupted and she would have let him take her right there in her office if the door was not suddenly eased open after a brief knock.

She would have sprung from his lap, if his arms hadn't kept her anchored to him.

"Sorry to interrupt, but the natives are getting restless. And Robert is asking for you." Andre told her smoothly, his eyes trained on them.

"I'll be right there." She told him, embarrassment coloring her voice.

"Are you sure? I could always try and handle the situation."

"Two minutes." She snapped. "Please."

When he stepped out and closed the door, she pushed her hands against his chest.

"Let go of me."

"We need to talk."

"We don't need to do a damn thing." Taking a deep breath, she tried to steady her breathing. "Just leave me alone."

"I'm afraid that's not going to happen." He tightened his grip around her waist. "I've just proven that you were lying. You've not moved on. And neither have I. I need another chance. I cannot seem to manage without you."

"What about your daughter?"

"What about her?"

"I thought you wanted to spend time with her."

He shrugged. "I'm doing so. But that does not mean I have to put my life on hold." His eyes searched her face. "Unless that's a problem for you. Do you not like children?"

"I like them well enough, but I'm sure the last thing your daughter needs is to have another woman who's not her mother in her life."

"She'll adjust."

"Is that so?"

"Yes, dammit Sadie. I need to see you."

"I'm not..."

"I don't intend to just walk away." He plucked her off his lap. "Just giving you fair warning."

He rose and stood in front of her. Cupping her face between his palms, he stroked his thumb over her cheek. "Not again. I was a fool to have done so in the first place." He kissed her roughly before stepping back and walking out of the office.

She had to sit on the edge of her desk before her knees gave way. Pressing her hand to her galloping heart, she took several deep breaths and still wasn't composed enough to leave the room.

When the door opened again, she gave Andre a wilting look which he ignored.

"If I'd not seen it with my own eyes, there would be no doubt what you two were up to in here.

The gorgeous Nico's face was flushed and his hair even more disorderly than usual.

And honey, you look..." He gestured with one hand as he leaned against the door.

"Well rumpled. And lips swollen. I suggest you go into the restroom and try and do something about it before stepping back outside.

The cute and staid Robert might be a banker, but he has eyes.

You might also want to tell him as gently as you can that the relationship or whatever it was, that it's over. "

"Oh, go to hell." She stormed out of the room and left him staring after her with a smug smile.

*****

He drove around aimlessly. And had to resist the urge to go back there and drag her out.

He had driven for half an hour before pulling off the side of the road and sliding into park.

He needed a clear head and a damn plan. If she thinks he was going to just disappear from her life, she had another thing coming.

He wanted her and she wanted him. His heart turned over inside his chest as he wondered if she had slept with the son of a bitch. And knowing her, he doubted it very much. What they had shared had been too significant for her to just take another man to her bed. She wasn't like that.

He pressed his forehead against the steering wheel, exhaling sharply.

The memory of her touch, the fire in her eyes, lingered with him.

With each passing second, his resolve only grew stronger.

He wasn't giving up, not this time. Whatever obstacles lay between them, he was determined to find a way through.

For the first time in a long while, hope flickered inside him, stubborn and bright, refusing to be extinguished.

*****

She was exhausted, emotionally and physically. The gallery had not emptied out until almost midnight and by that time, the emotions swirling inside her had weakened her knees and devastated her mind.

She eased off her boots and recalled the conversation with Robert earlier.

"You're in love with him." He spoke quietly, a patient look on his attractive face, which had made it much worse.

"No. I'm..."

He shook his head. "I saw the way you two looked at each other and how you were when you came out of the office.

Even as dense as I tend to be sometimes, I could realize what had transpired.

" He touched her lightly on the cheek. "You're so beautiful and way out of my league.

Even if that were not the case, your heart belongs to someone else.

Work things out Sadie. I'm willing to be your friend as I've been for the past several weeks. "

Stripping off her dress, she hung it up carefully. She did not want to think. He had warned that he was not going anywhere, but she had no idea how it would work between them.

There was a little girl involved. He was a father for God's sake. That little girl's mother left her in his care and wanted nothing more to do with her.

Nico was not thinking or he was thinking with his damn glands.

She had to be the sensible one. She could not just jump back into bed with him.

This time she would not be dealing with him only.

There was his little girl as well and...

Walking into her closet, she hung the dress up and just stood there looking at the rows of shelves.

But oh God, she missed him so much, she actually felt the pain blasting through her and knew without a doubt that she was in love with him.