He took a breath and looked at the mussed-up bed where so many of his deepest fantasies had come to life during the dark of the night. He couldn't contain a wicked, pleased smile.
And then his eyes fell to the bedside table and he saw the gleaming bands of gold that once again, she'd tossed aside.
His mood deflated, irritation in its purest form gripping him by the throat and bleeding down his spine. He felt a maddening rush of resentment rise up and seize him, threatening to break down the last bit of discipline and patience he'd tried so hard to maintain.
Being considerate and gentle only got a man so far.
Fuck this shit.
She wanted to do battle?
He'd give her a war.
****
The following week was hell on Nick's nerves. Every night after they'd eaten the evening meal where they had no meaningful conversation, he picked Courtney up and carried her through to his suite and made love to her.
Making love to her was the only way he knew how to communicate with her these days. He tried to get it to sink into her head. He loved her. He wanted her. He needed her, not just today, but forever.
Although he didn't say those exact words, he thought his feelings had to be clear.
Damn straight, he knew his feelings were clear to her.
But it never fucking failed. He'd slip his rings onto her finger after she'd fallen asleep, but every morning, he'd find them on the bedside table.
The situation was slowly driving him out of his fucking mind.
****
When Saturday came, Courtney sat in a booth beside Nick at a small bistro on the west side of town. They were trying to have a leisurely lunch, but it was obvious that they were both stiff and unhappy.
She knew none of this could be easy for him, but this afternoon, he seemed more upset than usual. Was it because she'd taken her rings off again this morning? He had to know that it was her one rebellion that said she hadn't settled into this marriage of theirs.
Last night, he'd been so content and she understood why. She'd told him she loved him twice during the night. She hadn't been able to help herself, he'd made love to her with an adoration she'd felt clear to her bones. But that hadn't stopped her from removing her rings this morning. Stupid, confused woman. She couldn't blame him for being upset with her. She was upset with herself.
And now, although he tried to contain it, there was no question that Nick was pissed.
She looked across the restaurant where a young couple with two little kids were being seated. The children were loud and boisterous and when she glanced back at Nick, he was contemplating the family with a pensive, almost wistful expression on his face.
Courtney's insides clenched with pain. As she reached for her glass of Diet Coke, what she saw in his expression was so upsetting to her that her fingers began trembling. A second later, the glass slipped from her hand and ice and cola spilt all over the table and then, to her horror, all over Nick.
He looked back to her, undoubtedly reading the emotion on her face that she couldn't conceal.
Ignoring the sticky liquid running down his shirt and seeping into his jeans, his eyes grew dark and stormy. "I don't need children," he hissed as he downed the last of the water in his glass.
She swallowed but didn't answer, and as they'd already finished their meal, Nick paid the bill and began to escort her out. As they passed through the vestibule of the restaurant before hitting the main doors, Courtney glanced at the rack of newspapers and flyers that were grouped together. One rack held free copies of a real-estate magazine that featured apartments for lease, and she made a mental note of it, knowing that if she intended to make a move out of the marriage, it would undoubtedly be easier sooner rather than later.
As she glanced back up, Nick was watching her carefully, a mask of fury on his features. As she continued to walk, she knew it wasn't her imagination that the hand he held at her spine seemed to become more controlling.
When they got back home and walked inside the penthouse, Nick's keys hit the table beside the door and his fingers clenched around her wrist. "I'm going to go take a quick shower and when I get back, you better be ready to talk. Understand?"
Courtney took a deep breath and could do the only thing she was capable of at that moment. She nodded her head.
****
Five minutes later, Nick walked out of the bathroom, barefoot, dressed in jeans and nothing else. Running a towel through his hair, he left the bedroom, intent on a showdown with Courtney.