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His mouth filled with a bitter taste as he was reminded that, unless he changed her mind, one day some other man was going to get the benefit of that excellent brain.
He had done nothing to prevent Robert forming the wrong opinion of her but he should feel no guilt. All was fair in love and war, and this was definitely war. He had taken a perverse pleasure in seeing her reduced to the status of wife and pretty trinket hanging on his arm.
His independent wife clung to her professional status like a second skin. She clung to her professional status around him like a second skin. She never let her guard down for a single second. Not even when she confessed infidelity. Always that wall was between them. He had facilitated its construction with her.
Well, he was going to tear it down—every last brick. By hook or by crook he would bring out that hidden womanly side, a side she had been happy to share with someone else.
Now he had got over his shock about her wanting to leave him he was able to think rationally. He could not in all conscience force her to stay if she was determined to go. It would be intolerable for them both. But neither was he prepared to let her go without sampling that fabulous body for himself and making her see how good things could be between them. Goddammit, she was his wife.
One thing he had learned about women was that one night in his bed was enough for them to start talking about feelings. Had he not married Rosa because she was nothing like those women?
Rosa was emotionally closed off. It was preposterous to imagine she would lie in bed and discuss feelings, or that she would expect him to share his.
His solution was perfect. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. They would continue with their perfect marriage and in the evenings he would share her bed and her delectable body. That would stave off her loneliness and put paid to her ridiculous idea of divorce.
He smothered a sudden burst of mirth at the recognition that at least he wouldn’t have to worry about her hearing wedding bells.
‘Rosa, I will make it clear to Robert tonight that you are more than just my wife, that you are an excellent translator and PA.’
‘You most certainly will not,’ she said, in what sounded uncannily like exasperation. ‘That would be even worse.’ She adopted a childish voice. ‘Oh, Mr King, have I told you how well my little wife sings? She’s so good she could be on a talent show.’
Despite himself, Nico laughed. ‘I get your point. I will try for subtlety. How does that sound?’
She narrowed her eyes. ‘Better. Obviously it would have been better not to get us into this position in the first place. If you had just introduced me as your PA, like you always used to do, we would not have this problem.’
‘I don’t have any problem with it—I’m proud to call you my wife.’
Satisfaction drove through him as he witnessed the colour spread up her neck. He was only speaking the truth.
‘But naturally I do understand why the situation would irk you.’
‘Irk?’ The caramel in her eyes darkened. ‘Yes, I would say the situation irks me. I’ve worked too hard for my professionalism to be reduced to nothing but a bit part in your life.’
He could understand that too. And the guilt that had been hanging around him like a bad smell reeked a little bit stronger. Nico understood hard work. How else did a boy from a backward Siberian mining town break free and conquer the world?
‘Is there something wrong with your neck?’ he enquired.
‘Sorry?’
‘You keep kneading it. You were doing it this morning.’
‘Oh.’ For a moment she looked a little stunned. ‘I cricked it last night.’
‘Cricked?’
‘I strained it. I woke up with it. I’ll take some ibuprofen for it soon.’
‘Is it from sleeping on the sofa?’
The look she gave him could only be described as a ‘well, duh’ look.
He smiled. ‘That is what happens when you allow pride to dictate your actions. There was a perfectly good bed for you to sleep in—there still is.’
‘Or you could do the gentlemanly thing and offer to sleep on the sofa tonight.’
‘I could,’ he agreed. ‘But I won’t. The bed is plenty big enough for both of us. I promise I will not try anything with you.’ He paused deliberately before continuing, ‘That is not to say you cannot try anything with me.’
That delicious colour flared across her face and neck again. ‘There you go again, making innuendoes and flirting with me.’
‘That was not innuendo. It was fact. I would be delighted if you were to seduce me.’
Rosa looked as if she were about to bolt, so Nico raised his hands in a sign of peace. ‘Robert and Laura are expecting to dine with us and it would be wholly embarrassing if I were to arrive solo.’
