Page 30 of Nico (Members From Money Season 2, #154)

"I'm surprised you're still here."

Sadie looked up from the pieces she had been examining as Andre came wandering into her office.

"Why? I work here, don't I?"

Perching on the edge of her desk, he adjusted his immaculate tan dress slacks and ran his fingers over the needle edged pleat absently. He had feared that she would give up her position and had been dreading hearing the words. When she returned from her honeymoon two weeks ago, he expected her to quit on him. And had been on tenterhooks ever since.

When she continued to arrive every morning, he had allowed himself to hope.

"You could buy and sell this place easily."

She pondered on that and smiled inwardly as she wondered what he would say if he knew her husband had suggested that same thing.

"I know you love the gallery. Want to own it?" Just like that. He had suggested it one night after they made love. "Or you could open your own and represent me exclusively."

"I would never do that to Andre. He's my friend."

"I love working here. And I don't have any plans to own my own gallery. I would be in competition with you." She pointed out easily as she settled on the chair.

"I'm sure your husband wants you at home. Aren't you also a mother to that adorable little girl?"

"Gracie is quite fine. She has people around her and is in danger of being spoiled. Her grandparents and aunt dote on her, not to mention her dad and the staff at the manor."

"And you?"

"I adore her." A smile touched her lips. "She's enchanting and easy to love. I look forward to seeing her every morning before I leave and every afternoon. She's also incredibly smart and thinks her father is some sort of hero. You should see them together."

Andre studied her thoughtfully, admiring the silk sweater and the flash of diamonds of her wedding rings. He had money, but she could easily buy and sell him several times over.

"Darling, you're glowing." He said it with a sigh. "Any plans on having a little Coulter or is that already in place?"

"Nico is insisting on it, but I want to wait."

"Why?"

"Because Gracie is still practically a baby."

"That has nothing to do with the price of bread." He flicked an elegant hand in dismissal. "The man naturally needs an heir."

"Time enough for that." She pushed forward. "Now please go away and leave me to my work. These pieces are not going to inventory themselves."

He rose gracefully and made his way towards the door. Turning around, he stared at her and smiled.

"Darling?"

"What?"

"Thanks."

"For?" She frowned at him.

"Not leaving me high and dry."

"I might just change my mind if you continue to interrupt my work."

"Going." He grinned. "I'm incredibly happy for you."

A smile wreathed her face. "So am I."

*****

She waited until she had checked on Gracie and calmed down sufficiently to go downstairs and face him. And she was going to have a damn glass of wine even though it was the middle of the freaking night. She was so angry she was fit to be tied! Marching into their bedroom, she slipped out of her shoes and took off the dress she had worn to the gallery.

She had persuaded him to accompany her to the opening, hadn't she? Dragging off the lovely emerald green silk, she tossed it on the sofa with careless disregard for price and quality. Hadn't she begged him to send Gracie to the main house and attend the opening with her? One month of marriage and he was already getting on her bloody nerves.

Sitting on the edge of the king-sized bed, she peeled off her stockings and tossed them as well. Wearing only the skimpy black silk underwear, she marched over to the cabinet he had had installed and grabbed a bottle of Cabernet. Pouring the wine, she took the glass and went to stand in front of the hearth.

She was there for two minutes when she heard the doors opening. She remained where she was, not turning even when she heard him enter the room.

"Look," he stood in the center of the room and took in the seductive curves, shown to absolutely perfection in the light of the flames. His hands itched to paint her just like that, but he knew he would not dare approach her with that idea after the argument they had earlier. "Gracie had a nightmare, and I had to deal with it on my own. You know that I've been busy with the commission from the mayor. It's taking up a lot of my time and it's not like you need to work."

He could have bitten off his tongue when she whirled to face him, magnificent eyes blazing. Her breasts were trembling beneath the poor excuse for a bra and set his mouth watering. He wanted to cover her body with his and ravish her. But he wisely reined in his rampaging desire.

"You mean you want me to stay home where I belong, catering to your every whims and fancy, is that it? I should take up my place as the wife of Nico Coulter, son and heir to the pharmaceutical empire and very important artist! You're in great demand right now, so I should play the 'little woman' and stay home. Why stop there?" She threw her hands up and he wondered how the wine kept from sloshing over the rim of the glass. "Why not fill my uterus with your seed and have me popping out babies every year? Because that's what I'm good for, isn't it?"

"Don't be ridiculous! You..." He took a step back when she took several steps towards him and carefully considered his next words. Holding up a hand, he took several deep breaths. "Darling..."

"Oh no!" She snapped it out. "You don't get to butter me up right now. You behaved as if Gracie having a nightmare was my fault. I asked you to come with me to the opening and you said no." She finished the wine and slammed the glass down on the bedside table.

"I'm sorry." He dragged restless fingers through his hair. "This assignment is driving me crazy and taking the time I should be spending with you and Gracie. We've just been married for a month, and I'm stuck on this job. You spend most of your time at the gallery."

He shook his head when she opened her mouth to respond. "Please, let me finish." He took a breath. "We need to find a balance. I know Gracie has her grandparents and my sister, but she needs us, her parents. I know the gallery means a lot to you, but still," he sent her a pleading look. "We have to find a balance. We've not been out of the house together since we came back from the honeymoon."

Her anger died an instant death. He was right. His presentation earlier might have been flawed, but he was right, damn him. She had been so caught up in the new commissions coming in, she had managed to put her husband and the little girl she considered her daughter behind. But she was not willing to let him off the hook that easily.

Turning away, she went to drag on a robe. Tomorrow was Sunday and she was planning to have them spend time together as a family.

"Sadie?"

"I'm thinking." She muttered as she crossed to the bed and sat on the edge of it. Her black silk robe gaped open, allowing him a tantalizing view of her breasts and flat stomach. His mouth watered and he wanted to get the fight out of the way so he could show her how sorry he was. He wanted to sink himself deep inside her and never come back out.

"All right," she murmured. "Fine. I'll cut my time at the gallery. But I'm not quitting my job." Her eyes blazed at him. "And if you think you can talk to me..."

"I apologize." He finally bridged the distance between them and hunkered in front of her. "Forgive me baby." Taking her hands in his, he linked their fingers. "I would like to promise you it won't happen again..."

"It had better not." Damn if he wasn't softening her up. The man had the talent of doing just that.

"We're going to fight darling." He stated solemnly. "But I promise we will never go to bed angry." Lifting their joined hands, he brushed his lips on her knuckles. "Like now." Turning her hand over, he pressed his lips to her palm and sent heat shimmering through her body.

"It's not working." She lied haughtily.

"No?" His smug smile told her he knew she was lying. "How about now?"

He trailed his tongue over her flesh and nibbled at her wrist. A smile curved his lips when he heard her sucking in her breath. "Anything?"

She clenched her fingers and closed her eyes. "No."

"I guess I have to work much harder."

"I guess you have to." Her eyes flickered open as he pulled her thumb into his mouth. Lifting his head, he met her gaze and sucked it into his mouth. Her lips parted and her nipples became twin peaks of rock.

"Now?"

"I..." she drew in a breath. "Maybe."

"Still not sure?" His voice was patient, his expression slightly amused. "I must not be doing it right." Letting go of her hand, he parted the robe and went straight to her weak spot.

Fingers clenched on the sheets, she arched her back and felt the hot bolt of heat slam viciously into her as he took her nipple. And he wasn't gentle. He suckled like a child who had been denied sustenance for days. And had her crying out in shocked desire.

When he reached between her thighs to press his hand over the skimpy lace, she came, her body vibrating.

It was no longer a game to him. With his body raging with desire, he stumbled to his feet and got rid of his clothes in record time.

"Let me," he growled when she would have removed her underwear. "I'll buy you several more."

She cried out again when he simply tore through the lace to get to her skin. Without finesse, because good God, he had to have her now! He drove into her with a force that shoved her into the headboard.

With his teeth clenched and his body shuddering, he closed his eyes as her tightness wrapped around him like a tight wet fist.

Bending his head to hers, he took several breaths. "I love you so goddamn much." He whispered against her lips. "You make me crazy. No one has ever been able to affect me this much. I'm yours and you'll always be mine. Tell me you love me."

"I love you." Tears streamed down her cheeks, but she did not care. Lifting her hands, she wrapped them around his neck. "I love you." Her body arched and she lifted her legs to wrap around him, pulling him in even closer. "I'm yours."

Her words roared through his body and snapped his control. He drove into her, taking her lips in a kiss that sapped every rational thought from her head.

When they came, it was like a storm, beating their bodies like a battering ram. He emptied into her, his body shuddering, heart racing frantically.

It took several minutes for him to move. Sliding off her, he flopped back on the pillows and brought her with him.

"We should get some sleep." He finally spoke.

"Hmm." She was content to just snuggle against his solid chest and listen to the slowing of his heartrate. "Eventually."

His fingers stroked her back slowly. "Am I forgiven?"

He felt when her lips curved against his skin. "Let me think on it."

"I believe I am."

"Maybe." Her hand drifted down his stomach and before he could stop her, she was curving her fingers around his sex, still wet from their combined climaxes.

"Are you planning on killing me?"

"Why would I want to do that?"

He wasn't in the least bit surprised to find himself growing hard again. Shaking his head, he tangled his fingers through her hair.

"If you are, I'm willing to take the plunge."

"That's the spirit." She smiled sultrily and climbed on top of him.

"You witch," he whispered as she straddled him. For the next half hour, there were no need for words.

*****

She made a day of it. Determined to make up for the days she spent away from both of them, she planned and made a list, much to her husband's amusement.

"Laugh all you want, but I want it to be perfect. Which means I'll be cooking all the meals."

"We could go someplace."

"Oh, I was thinking we could go to the ice-skating place a few blocks from the gallery. Teach Gracie how to ice skate."

"I'm not getting on the ice. I have two left feet." He muttered.

She stared at him in surprise. "I thought all you rich kids played ice hockey."

"Nope. Everything else but that."

"Well you can learn."

"Too old."

"You're never too old to learn something new. And besides, your daughter will want you to accompany her."

"Can you ice skate?"

"Of course." She waved a hand languidly. "I can do a perfect figure eight."

"Then it's settled. You take her out and I stay on the sidelines and cheer my girls on."

"That's cowardly."

"See." He pointed at her. "You meant that as an insult, but I am okay with it." He hauled her into his arms. "Wear something sexy."

"Pervert." She murmured, but dissolved as soon as he took her lips and sank into the kiss.

Now with Gracie hopping from one foot to the next, she prepared chocolate chip pancakes and to the little girl's delight, made them into little hearts. Pouring on strawberries and syrup, she added scrambled eggs and bacon and called Nico from his studio to come for the meal.

She was also determined that they would start having at least one meal together.

"It's yummy."

"Don't talk with your mouth full sweetheart." Her father leaned forward and dabbed at the syrup and whipped cream at the sides of her mouth. "And yes, you're right, it's yummy." He winked at his wife as she poured some more coffee into his cup.

"Mama Sadie, may I have some more?"

Sadie went still and for a few seconds, she could only stare at the child. Not once had she told the little girl or tried to force her to call her anything other than her given name. To her mind, Gracie already had a mother who loved her, and she had no intention of taking Brigette's place.

"I..." She cleared her throat, but still the lump remained.

Realizing how overwhelmed she was, Nico spoke up. "Why don't you sit darling? I'll get the pancake."

"No." She shook her head, eyes brimming. "I... I just need a minute." She fled into the kitchen and sat around the counter, her heart pounding.

He came in just as she was wiping the tears away. "I was just..."

"I'll get it." Scooping two small pancakes onto a plate, he went into the dining room to hand it to his daughter, before coming back to turn her into his arms.

"She asked me if she could call you that, this morning."

"Did she?" She burrowed against his chest and wept helplessly.

"There now baby." Rubbing his hands up and down her back, he held her against him.

"I hope it's all right with you?"

"What do you think?" She sniffed. Lifting her tear drenched face, she gave him a watery smile. "I really love her."

Tilting her chin up, he kissed her wet cheeks. "I know you do."

Wrapping her arms around his waist, she held on a minute more. "I think we've left her alone long enough."

*****

It was a perfect day. Just cold enough for them to enjoy being bundled up. Gracie was so excited at the prospect of learning to ice skate, that she could barely sit still in her car seat. Not even the animated princess movie they put on for her could hold her attention.

She kept asking how long before they got to the 'rink'.

And when they got there, she started to pull them into the dome like building so she could get started.

The Sunday afternoon had brought out families with children of varying ages. Taking a seat on the second tier, Nico accepted a steaming cup of coffee and prepared to watch his girls do their thing. Sadie had tried to convince him to take a spin around the rink, but he had told her a very firm no. "I would not like my daughter or anyone else to see me falling flat on my ass. Too embarrassing."

"It's all part of the learning process."

"No thanks."

She had shaken her head and taking Gracie's hand, went off without him.

Now he was relaxed and content to watch the show.

After a few minutes, he realized two things. His wife was not just blowing smoke, she was damn good. And she was so patient with Gracie, it ached his heart.

"They look good out there. Wife and kid?"

Nico tore his eyes from them to look at the man lowering himself into a comfortable chair next to him.

"Yeah."

"You're Nico Coulter." The wrinkled face creased even more as he stuck out a hand. "Pleasure. I knew your grandfather. We used to go fishing back in the days. Name is William Jennison."

"I know you." Nico gripped the hand and was surprised at the firm grasp. "Haven't seen you in ages."

"Been away in Ireland." He nodded towards the rink and pointed out a trio of blonde girls holding hands and doing the rounds. "Grandkids right there. I have the pleasure of escorting them. Parents are too busy doing the social whirl." There was a wistful expression on his craggy face. "It's good to see parents putting in the time. Any reason why you're not out there?"

"I am kinda attached to my limbs." He grinned. "My wife called me a coward, but I prefer to call it being sensible. I never learned to skate and at my age, it's not going to happen."

"She's graceful and beautiful. Looks like a model." William murmured. "You must be very proud."

Nico turned just in time to see Sadie slowly turning a circle with his daughter's hand tucked securely in hers.

"I am indeed." He murmured.

*****

"An ear infection." The pediatrician announced two days later. "At this age, they're prone to them." She smiled at Gracie reassuringly. "We're going to make it all better."

"Was it because we took her to the skating rink?" Sadie was hoping she had not messed up again. She was the one who had suggested they go skating.

"No." The woman shook her head. "It's part of the growing up stage. Some antibiotics and she will sleep it off in no time."

"See? You were worried for nothing."

Sadie only cast him a look before taking the little girl into her arms. "Better?"

Knuckling the tears away, she nodded. "I want a lollipop."

Nico roared with laughter and snatched her into his arms. "You can get two."

"One." Sadie said firmly, rubbing her hand over the tumble of blonde curls. "And some soup. And then a bedtime story." She looked up at the doctor. "Thanks for coming over."

"Of course." She rose.

"I'll see you out."

"She can take the second dosage six hours from now, but the pain has eased somewhat." The doctor smiled at Gracie. "I suggest you get her that soup and put her to bed as soon as possible. She'll be out like a light in half an hour."

*****

"It's scary, isn't it?" Sadie murmured much later as they stood there watching the little girl all tucked in, with her pink elephant under her arm.

"Parenting?" Nico rubbed his hand up and down her arm. "It's a cake walk." He grinned as she lifted her head to glare at him. "Yes. It is." He kissed the tip of her nose. "But you handled everything like you were born to it."

Snuggling against his shoulder, she turned to look at the little girl and felt love twisting her into knots.

"I don't want to smother her."

"We cannot make that promise. It's the need to keep her safe all the time. To try and prevent anything from ever touching her. To keep her chained inside her bedroom." Lifting her in his arms, he made sure Gracie's monitor was on, before leaving the room and closing the door.

He did not stop until he was next to the bed.

Kneeling in front of her, he proceeded to take off her sandals. "Now I get to cater to my wife." He looked up at her as he massaged her insteps. "I love you." He added solemnly.

"I love you more." She told him huskily.

The end…