I Want To Be Yours (17 page)

She slowly raised her gaze to his face and was captivated by the sensual blaze in his unwavering scrutiny. The naked hunger in his eyes took her breath away and further ignited the embers of her desire.

She whimpered.

“You came,” Nico stated, refusing to release her from his smoldering gaze.

“You were right. I need to show you that I am your woman. But Nico, I’m so terrified of disappointing you! Despite what you think, I’ve not done this since you. I don’t know if I can please you,” Mari whispered.

He made to get up from the bed but Mari held up her hands imploringly, silently begging him to remain where he was. She was trembling so much she had no idea how her knees were supporting her.

She slowly started to remove the sexy garment.

Nico laid there, immobile, filled with such punishing desire he couldn’t have moved if his life depended upon it. Assailed with the knowledge that she was still exclusively his, he watched her silent, slow removal of a negligee that had left nothing to the imagination. As she disrobed, the blood rushed to his already hard cock. She shyly stood there, naked, at the foot of the bed, like a woodland nymph. He was captivated by the changes in her figure after giving birth to their daughter. While her stomach was still relatively flat, he loved the softer, feminine curve. Her breasts were firm but at least a size bigger. He loved her much rounder ass, which made the arch in her spine and her hourglass shape more pronounced. Her skin glowed like warm honey.

“You’re bloody beautiful!” Nico growled with the need to touch her. Despite being pissed and disillusioned with her, he’d missed her every single day of their separation. He had purposefully not allowed himself any access to her. And now that she was here, giving herself to him, he felt awed, humbled, and exceedingly fortunate.

Desire, raw and white-hot, splintered his control. He vaulted from the bed to stand before her, pulling her soft curves into his arms and holding her against his overheated flesh.

“You could never disappoint me. As for pleasing me, you please me just by being you.”

He captured her lips in a bruising, hungry kiss and lifted her high in his arms, right there in the middle of the bedroom. With impatient fingers, he found her shaved slit and dragged a broad digit along her sensitive, engorged clit.

“Nico, yes please!”

The husky sound of her voice made his muscles clench in awareness and desperate to get inside her. Discovering her saturated, hot center, he hardened even more painfully. His need was too great. He’d waited too long. There was no time for preliminaries. He walked the short distance to the nearest wall and pinned her back against the hard surface. The muscles in his arms bulged with brute strength as he fitted her legs around his waist and gripped the globes of her ass. He was so gone, he couldn’t think straight, completely on fire to claim her. He braced his legs apart for leverage as he held her body against the wall with his rock-hard frame. Probing her wet folds with the wide head of his shaft, he impaled her with the angry, thick length.

She gasped his name in stunning approval.

He froze. Then, as he sank into her heat, jarring pleasure ricocheted throughout his body at the first exquisite feel of her after such a long absence.

Nico rolled his hips, thrusting his engorged length slowly, with infinite tenderness, into her over and over again. “Every inch of you is mine now. Every fucking inch!” he growled.

Mari keened in enjoyment, clutching her legs tighter around his waist, her arms like a vise around his neck. She writhed against him, rotating her hips to meet each thrust, clutching his hair, holding his head still for her kiss, and thrusting her tongue deep into his mouth.

With her breasts sensually abraded by the light carpet of hair on his solid chest, and the feel of the hard muscles of his chiseled abs and arms caressing her sensitive skin, she was undone. Mari was lost as her passion surged and her world spiraled out of control. She was filled with him, his shaft like a club wedged inside of her.

“Nico!” she cried as he thrust faster, deeper within her, feeling him in her stomach with a sort of pleasure-pain that made her quiver uncontrollably. Each thrust and roll of his hips resulted in an erotic stimulation to her feverishly aroused clit.

“You feel so fucking good!” His eyes were glazed with passion. “This is mine, Mari. Say it!” He spoke fiercely as he held her tighter and powered into her. “Say it.” He abruptly pulled out. The swollen head of his shaft caressed her entrance as he willed her to submit to him.

Mari tried desperately to impale herself on him and regain his hard shaft by tightening her legs around his back. Nico refused to budge, silently demanding her surrender.

“Yes, yes, I am yours. Please, Nico,” she sobbed. He rewarded her with a strong, deep thrust into her starved pussy. He plundered her mouth with his tongue, tasting, licking, giving them both what they craved. His kiss pushed her over the edge, triggering intense tremors in her core, which drenched her inner thighs and his sac. Her muscles contracted strongly around his cock, absorbing each powerful glide.

“I love you, Nico,” Mari whispered as he released her lips from their mind-numbing kiss. “I’ve always loved you.”

Gripping her ass even more tightly in the palms of his big hands, he thrust mindlessly, repeatedly into her, and with each thrust she chanted her love. He sank his teeth into the skin of her neck, marking her, as if he couldn’t help himself. He sucked strongly, her body bowed against his, her cries echoing in the room as the hot lava of her orgasm erupted and she convulsed in ecstasy. Her damp body shivered uncontrollably from the power of her release.

He drove into her like a piston, in wild frenzy before exploding, growling loudly with shattering fulfillment.

Mari slowly unlocked her trembling limbs from Nico’s back and slid down his body, but she had to maintain her hold on him. Her limbs felt like limp, wet noodles, incapable of moving even if she’d wanted them to. His solid strength was all that held her upright. She shyly averted her eyes in remembered embarrassment of her confession of love. He didn’t give any indication he’d heard her, but she was equally sure that he had. He would have had to been deaf not to.

Nico carefully lifted her into his arms again and placed her gently in the middle of the bed. He kissed her all over: her lips, her neck, her shoulders, her breasts, the flat plane of her stomach. He took his time caressing and pleasuring her and reigniting her passion to a fever pitch. He held her hands securely over her head and entered her with a deep, relentless thrust. Her body arched. Her hips lifted and took him deeper into her. Their lips melded and hungrily devoured each other.

His silent loving brought tears to her eyes and for those brief moments, Mari felt blossoming hope for the success of their marriage.

Slowly, and with infinite care, he stroked deeper and deeper into her. The wanting, the passion, the fire was unbearable. Mari erupted as the sensations poured through her.

But he wasn’t done with her yet. He turned her over and brought her to her knees. Mari had never felt so exhausted and yet so sexually fulfilled. But he soon had her mindless for more, as he plucked at her nipples and rubbed her swollen clit with rough, thick fingers until she was writhing in his arms, begging for his possession once again. Gripping her round bottom, he glided gently into her tight core. Her sensitive walls clutched around his length, jealously hugging his bruising shaft. She thoroughly enjoyed the erotic feel of his thick cock sliding insistently in and out of her.

He continued to plunder her depths, battering her walls with relentless strength, while whispering words so raw and so crass, she could only blush. But every word made her more aroused, their wickedness inexplicably turning her on. She convulsed uncontrollably and climaxed hard. It triggered Nico’s powerful orgasm and his seed bathed her womb.

Nico gently turned her on her back and kissed her. Too exhausted, Mari couldn’t return his kiss. She collapsed in a tired heap, enjoying his gentle petting and soft praises.

Chapter Twelve

Two months later

They were at
yet another cocktail party that Nico
had
to attend in his capacity as chairman of the Darian Group. Mari had lost count of the number of functions they had attended as a couple since their wedding. The functions themselves were not a hardship to endure, but it was the constant stream of beautiful women vying for Nico’s attention. To give him his due, Nico never strayed far from her side. He kept her close and seemed to be oblivious to their interest.

But his continuous PDAs surprised her. Nico had always been a very private man, and it astounded her how affectionate he was. His kisses were frequent and often gently caressed any part of her body within reach, keeping her deliciously primed for him. Their desire for each other had gotten sharper, stronger, and didn’t seem to be abating in the least. Mari was grateful for that, but was on constant pins and needles, waiting for him to lose interest.

She and Alex had visited Nico only once in his office since their marriage. The women had immediately taken Alex, passing her around and making a big fuss about how beautiful she was. Mari had been alone with Nico for not more than five minutes before he’d pounced. Draped over his desk, her dress pushed up to her waist, her underwear confiscated, and her round bottom angled to receive him. She bit her lip, desperate to suppress her cries of enjoyment at the delicious feel of his cock in her quivering heat.

Nico thought it was hilarious that his bare-assed wife had to serenely converse with his employees moments after they’d finished, as he’d kept her silk panties in his pocket. After that episode, Nico had forbidden any future visits to his office. Despite his enjoyment of it, he wasn’t happy with his behavior. “My office is not a fucking bedroom!” had been his exact words.

They moved out of his penthouse into a house on the outskirts of London a week after their wedding, and Nico turned the penthouse into another suite of executive offices. She and Alex had settled nicely into the routine of Nico’s life. He hadn’t yet taken any more trips abroad on business, but instead had been content to delegate these duties to Richard, much to Richard’s delight.

Barbara, from the crèche at Brennan’s, had been hired as Alex’s new nanny. Mari was happy because her little girl was so happy and was already confident of her place in her father’s life. She was definitely daddy’s little princess, following him around with rapt devotion whenever he came home.

The only dark clouds on the horizon were Nico’s refusal to compromise on her desire to work, and the reality of her one-sided love.

She continued to tell Nico nightly that she loved him. He neither returned her endearment nor acknowledged her expression of it. Mari knew that Nico had to feel something for her. His gentle handling of her and seemingly unquenchable lust for her suggested as much.

Finding a job had become her number one mission. She was still determined to work, whether he approved or not.

Mari looked around for her target and saw him, Simon Andrews, conversing with another gentleman in the corner. Simon was one of the most sought-after bachelors in London. His wealth and power, not to mention his movie-star good looks and big, athletic body, made him a prime target for an endless horde of beautiful women.

Simon had offered her a job a month ago, on learning she was floating her resume for an executive technical analyst position. Her acceptance of the position was even more appealing to him because she had once been a part of Nico’s inner sanctum. On that night, Nico had approached them and gripped her waist possessively. Simon had given a wicked grin and doubled his offer to Mari while maintaining eye contact with her husband. Nico had coldly declined on her behalf and walked away, taking her with him. She couldn’t understand his objection to Simon’s job offer. The man ran a chain of high-end international hotels, completely outside Nico’s business interests.

Reluctant to shatter the fragile truce they had enjoyed since their wedding night, she hadn’t called him out on his high-handedness.

Unfortunately, tonight, Mari couldn’t care less about their truce. She was bored and was slowly going out of her mind waiting on Nico to come home from work every day. There was only so much shopping and decorating she could do, and she had reached her limit weeks earlier.

Their home had been decorated with the help of Nico’s mother and sisters, and was maintained by the ever-efficient staff that Martha had hired. With Barbara to help with Alex, Mari had a lot of free time. It didn’t help that she was probably pregnant again. If her stubborn husband found that out, he’d be even more of an ass about her returning to work.

It’s time I retake my independence!

Nico was engaged in a lengthy discussion with two Russian businessmen who didn’t speak English very well, so the conversation was in their language. With Nico distracted, she slipped away from his side and cautiously made her way over to Simon. He watched her approach and immediately dismissed the gentleman standing next to him to give her his full attention.

“Is that offer still open?” Mari asked without preamble.

“And what does your possessive husband have to say about you working for me?” Simon inquired guardedly.

“I’m only interested in a job, Simon, nothing else. There is no need for you to provoke Nico by insinuating there’s anything more.” Mari gave him a hard glare, determined that he understood she was not amused by his flirtation.

“Come to my office tomorrow. We can work something out.” Simon handed her his business card.

“Not fucking happening!” Nico said fiercely, taking the card from Mari’s grasp. He dumped it in a wine glass on a tray held by a passing waiter.

“Nice seeing you too, old man.” Simon extended his hand again in greeting. Nico coldly regarded him and rudely ignored the gesture. He anchored Mari to his side, his grip tight around her waist.

“I have told you before that my wife isn’t interested in working for you or doing anything else with you. Let me make myself very clear. Stay the hell away from my wife!” His icy glare and furious tone was not lost on the other man. However, Simon only grinned in response.

“Nico, I asked him for the job, not the other way around,” Mari whispered trying to bring an already volatile situation to calm. “I want to work for him if the position is still vacant.” Even knowing that the job was possibly only available because of who she was married to, and her past association with his company, she didn’t care. But Simon would be an idiot if he thought she would betray Nico in any way.

Nico ignored her interruption and continued glaring at Simon. “Do I make myself clear, Andrews?”

“Perfectly.” The two men stared silently at each other for a few seconds before Simon turned to her with his signature charming smile back on his face. “Mrs. Darian, it was nice chatting with you, as always.” Simon nodded in salute and took his leave.

Nico’s body vibrated with rage. His facial muscles were stony with unleashed anger.

“We will discuss this at home,” he hurled at her through clenched teeth.

“But I—”

“Not another word. We’ll talk with the people I came to see tonight and then we will go home. Don’t test my bloody patience further.”

“Are you sure you want to go there with me right now? I’m not Simon for you to dismiss or drag around on a leash, like some damn lap dog. I’m your wife and entitled to your respect and consideration. You can stay and converse with whomever you like, but I’m taking my black ass home.” Mari angrily stepped away from him, fully aware that there was only so much he could do to stop her without making a scene. Tears filled her eyes and she blindly stumbled out of the room where the party was being held.

She exited the front entrance of the hotel and began to hail a cab. Nico’s large hand closed around hers and clasped her fingers firmly in his. Mari refused to look at him, but she didn’t pull her hand away. She knew that it would be a waste of time and energy. And they were both aware of the tabloid photographer lurking in the background.

The valet brought Nico’s Jaguar around. They traveled home in tense, angry silence.

Nico barely brought the car to a stop before Mari opened the door and angrily strode into the house. Gio had opened the front door when the car had come in the gate and she walked through without breaking her stride, still offering a short greeting to their faithful employee. Unfortunately, Nico was right behind her and he followed her to their bedroom, firmly closing the door behind him.

“You will stay away from Simon Andrews or you’ll not like the consequences,” Nico said in a deceptively reasonable voice. He was consumed with such white-hot rage. The thought of his wife working for a leech like Simon Andrews made his skin crawl. Feeling territorial and unbalanced, he ground his teeth together as he looked down at his beautiful, defiant wife.

“I told you I wanted to work again, but you refuse to discuss it. Simon was the only one brave enough to consider my resume.” Her stance was determined, indicating she’d no intention of being intimidated by him.

“There’s no need for you to work. My wife does
not
work! If you need to find something to occupy your time, call my mother or sisters. I’m sure they can find something in their respective charities for you to do here in London,” Nico stated angrily.

“I’m not interested in doing only that! I already help them, but it’s not enough,” Mari reasoned. “I need to work, Nico. I am bored and feel like I am not contributing to anything.”

“You are my wife! You contribute to our marriage. You are only required to take care of Alex and me, and of course any other children we will have. This is not up for negotiation. You knew this before we were married. This is the second time that you have tried to solicit Simon’s help. Do you think I wouldn’t destroy him? What is it you really want from him?” He silently regarded her with a cold glare. “Is it this?” he asked softly before pulling her to him and crushing her lips in a fierce bruising kiss.

Mari strained against his hold, trying to get away from him. “No, Nico, stop this. This is not about Simon. This is about us, about how we’re going to live our lives. I’m not Celina! Stop punishing me for what she did!” she implored desperately.

What the hell was she talking about? He hadn’t cared one bit about who Celina talked to or who she fucked.

Mari owned him!

But she didn’t know and he wasn’t about to tell her. He knew he was being unreasonable but couldn’t stomach the thought of his beautiful wife working in close confines with men like Simon. They would want to kiss her, touch her soft, honey skin, to make love to her, like he’d always wanted to. For years he’d lusted after her, watching like a hawk even though he’d had no right to. No way would other men look at his wife like that. Hell, no!

Even now, despite being married to her for a few months, he still lusted after her, couldn’t come close to trusting himself around her in an office setting, day in and day out. A predator like Simon wouldn’t think twice about making a move on her. The man had no scruples.

“Stop? But you don’t want me to stop making love to you, do you? You love me, remember? You love what I do to you. You’ll be begging me for it shortly.” He suddenly picked her up and threw her on the bed, knocking the wind right out of her. Before she could get her bearings, he stretched on top of her, his hard frame pinning her. He crushed her lips in a demanding kiss. Mari pushed at his shoulders and angrily tugged at his silky, black hair. The kiss softened, and soon her hands were holding him to her instead of pushing him away. In direct contrast to moments before, she tenderly caressed his hurt scalp with soothing fingers.

Nico cackled triumphantly.

Mari stiffened and bit down hard on his lip.

“What the—?” Nico pulled away and looked at her in astonishment.

“I’m not letting you get away with ignoring my wishes again. You’re not having your way in this, Nico. Get off of me!” Mari cried angrily, fiercely pushing at his immovable frame.

“Bite me again and I will spank your ass,” Nico drawled. “Do you fancy him that much? Is this why you suddenly don’t want me now?”

“You deserved it and I have no idea why you’re so fixated on Simon. Simon is the only one in London willing to hire me because you’ve threatened everyone else. I simply want to work!”

“Do you? I’m giving you an opportunity to work right now. My wife has no need to work, except in my bed,” Nico whispered silkily.

Mari was so incensed by his insensitive words, she tried to knee him in the groin. He quickly blocked her assault and crushed her under his weight so she had very little room to move.

“You little wildcat! Stop before you hurt yourself!” Nico told her sternly.

He was immediately contrite after voicing the nonsense about his wife not needing to work. But he was too pissed to apologize or soften his words. Knowing her body as well as he did, he couldn’t help but note that she had conceived again. She’d once told him that she was never regular with her menses. However, he would stake his fortune on his prediction. Her breasts and nipples were already larger. And he noticed they seemed a little more sensitive to his touch. They’d not been using any form of birth control, but he was still stunned this had happened again given his fertility limitations. She hadn’t mentioned the possibility of being pregnant, but he was determined to handle her carefully.

“Get off me! I hate you, you bastard!” Mari shouted at him.

Losing all patience, Nico pinned her hands above her head. He sealed their lips together, devouring her, while he slid his hand under her dress, grazing her stockinged leg, past her garter, roving up her thigh to her panty-clad hips. He released her lips to trail kisses down her cheeks, the perfumed crevice of her neck, her ear, and finally, her breasts.

Mari fought to withstand his seduction. She was desperate to resist him, and held herself motionless, afraid to move for fear of giving her yearning away.

Suddenly ripping her panties from her, Nico’s skillful fingers mercilessly stroked and caressed her quivering mound. Her traitorous body couldn’t help but respond. A tiny, involuntary moan escaped her. Desperate to stop the irrepressible need and rampant desire, Mari tried again to dislodge him, squirming and frantically straining against his firm hold. Nico laughed wickedly and pinned her more firmly to the bed.