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“Listen, all I said was I’d have my people review the case. There’s no need to get defensive.”
“There’s every need to get defensive. If I need your help I’ll let you know.” She folded her arms across her chest. “In the meanwhile, you run your business and let me run mine.”
Sloane gripped the wheel with both hands and stared straight ahead.
“Fine.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
It didn’t take long for Sloane to figure out why Melanie got so crabby at his suggestion. And he should have known better than to say what he did. He’d offended her when he made the offer because what businesswoman wanted to even contemplate that her husband thought she couldn’t handle a problem without him having to bail her out? Without meaning to, he’d insulted her and he felt like a royal fool for doing it.
That night as they prepared for bed Sloane made an attempt to appease Melanie. Since arriving home they’d spoken little and he wanted to remedy that. If there was one thing he admired his parents for, it was that they practiced the rule of never going to bed angry. In his own marriage Sloane wanted to live up to that standard.
“Come over here,” he said, patting the space on the bed beside him. “Let’s talk.”
For a moment she hesitated, still sporting a rebellious pout as she stared at him. But then a rueful smile softened her lips and she scooted over to cuddle up next to him.
“That’s better.” He kissed the top of her head then stroked his hand up and down her bare arm. “I’m sorry I came off like a chauvinist. I was only trying to help.”
“I know,” she said with a sigh and lifted her hand to run it over his belly. “And I’m sorry I jumped all over you like that. I just didn’t want you to think I was some helpless dodo. I’ve dug myself out of holes before and this time won’t be any different. I’ll think of something.”
“I’m sure you will.” He held her just a little bit tighter as her fingers slid just below the waistband of his shorts. “Just remember, if you want a sounding board, I’m here.”
She rubbed her face against his chest just like a little kitten. “Thanks,” she said in a muffled whisper.
They were silent for a while, just enjoying the comfort of being in each other’s arms, and then Melanie spoke. “You know, I’ve been thinking…if I can find a company to partner with, one that really understands the film business but also has a computer animation division, I just might be able to salvage this project.” She sat up and in her eyes was a glimmer of excitement. “That’s it. Forget about traditional movies. Animation is the way to go. Remember how Disney Studios partnered with Steve Jobs’s computer animation company, Pixar? The partnership produced the first computer animated blockbuster, Toy Story. That’s the way to go.” Eyes wide, she stared down at Sloane. “What do you think?”
He reached out and tapped her on the forehead. “That, my dear, comes from the workings of a genius mind. I couldn’t have come up with a better idea myself.”
“Yeah,” she said, nodding as she gazed off into space again. “Now if only I could find a company with that sort of technology readily available. I’d offer them fifty percent of profits. It would be a real partnership. We share the investment costs but we also share the rewards.” She was smiling now even as she shook her head. “I’m going to have to find me a computer animation partner, a really good one like Pixar.” She raised her eyebrows. “If it exists.”
Sloane smiled at her but he said nothing, letting her marinate for a while in her excitement.
It must have finally hit her that he was acting really weird, just sitting there grinning like a buffoon. Her eyes narrowed. “Hey, you look like you know something I don’t.” Then she gasped. “You know a company that can do this. That’s it, right?”
“That’s right.” He said then he folded his arms across his chest and stared at her, smiling, but saying nothing more.
“Well, don’t just sit there,” she demanded. “Spill it.”
When he still didn’t make a move to comply she reached over and punched him on the upper arm.
“Hey, domestic abuse.” He gave her a scowl as he resorted to drama by nursing his arm even though her punch was, for him, little more than a pat. It was hard to feign suffering when you were grinning ear to ear.
“And there’s more where that came from if you don’t start talking.” She placed both hands on his shoulders, looking like she was ready to shake him. “Which company do you know that can help me with this? Who do I call?”
“I’ll tell you if you give me a kiss.”
“Sloane,” she wailed, “will you stop kidding around? Just tell me. Who can I call to get some talks going?”
“Me.”
Melanie sat back on her haunches, clearly frustrated, and her pout returned. “Sloane, I wish you would get serious. This means a lot to me.”
“I am serious. I own the company that can do this for you.”
She stared at him in obvious disbelief. “Serious?”
“Very serious. I acquired Unix Computer Graphics last year and this is exactly the kind of project my engineers are looking to work on. In fact, we’ve been talking about the same sort of collaboration you just suggested. Been talking with Disney for months, but no go.”
“So…my idea wasn’t unique, was it?” Her lips curled into a wry smile.
“Well, maybe not unique, but brilliant.”
“Yeah, right.” She chuckled.
“Yes, it is right,” he said with an emphatic nod. “Why do you think I offered to buy the company from you? Even though we haven’t reviewed it yet, I was thinking of the possibilities.”
That got him a frown from Melanie. “Then why didn’t you say so?”
He shrugged. “I knew you would figure it out soon enough. You’re a smart girl.” When she scowled he corrected himself. “Sorry, a competent business leader.”
“Thank you,” she said with a curt nod. “So when can we talk? I want us to get started like yesterday.”
“Definitely not now,” he said with a groan, sliding lower in the bed. “It can wait till we get back to work tomorrow. Right now it’s time to crash.”
“No,” she said, giving him a sly smile. “Right now it’s time for your reward.”
“My reward? For what?”
“For being such a great and understanding husband,” she said, sliding her hand over his belly and up his chest. “For letting me work things out myself.” She leaned over him and bent low to plant a kiss on the space between his pecs. “For having the solution to my problem.” She slid her lips across the flat muscle and tickled his nipple with her tongue.
Sloane sucked in his breath as a jolt shot through his body. Melanie never ceased to turn him on.
As if emboldened by his reaction, she nibbled and suckled and then she slid across to the other side where she teased him until he got so hard he tented in his shorts.
And then, like a wicked witch, she tortured him even more, feathering kisses down his abs till her lips settled just above the waistband of his boxers. And there she paused, her breath tickling the hair on his lower belly, the close proximity of her lips driving him crazy.
And then to his relief, she hooked her thumbs into the garment and slowly, tantalizingly, she slid it down his hips. His manhood jutted up from his groin, aching for her touch.
Melanie, sweet Melanie, she placed her lips at its tip and covered it in soft kisses that drew tortured groans from his throat. And then she took him into her mouth and made sweet love to him with her lips, her tongue, even her tiny teeth as she gently grazed the head, sending sensuous shivers up his spine.
As if that weren’t enough, she moved lower still and gave his sac her full attention, using her tongue to caress him till he moaned and reached for her, dragging her up and over his body, and then he pulled her down so he could capture her mouth in a kiss that displayed the depth of his desire.
When Sloane finally released her lips she gasped for air but he gave her little time to recover. Her nightgown went the way of his shorts, to fall in a silky white puddle on the floor. And then he was covering her body with kisses, just as she’d done to him, and when he took her, his shaft sinking in to the hilt, she was wet and warm and welcoming.
Sloane made love to Melanie with a heated urgency that was almost desperation, plunging into her till she cried out, calling his name, begging him for more.
“Don’t stop,” she moaned. “Oh, Sloane, please, please.”
Her words were like fuel to his fire. He held her as she clung to him, driving faster, harder until she screamed his name and dug her fingernails into his shoulder.
And then he came, his body erupting as he shot his seed deep inside his dear, sweet Melanie; warm and willing Melanie; Melanie who made him explode like no other woman had before.
