“You don’t get along with your mother?”
Her chin tilted up. “It’s not that we don’t get along, it’s that her expectations are different now that I’m married.”
I gestured for her to go inside the TV room. She exhaled heavily again. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“I told you about Ivan. Help me understand your relationship with your mother so I don’t trigger undue stress.”
“Mamma manages that on her own, believe me.” She plopped down on the leather couch. She didn’t change the furniture here, but the TV was new. “You know she was all for this marriage. You’re her favorite son-in-law.”
“I’m her only son-in-law. But let’s not deny that the Amalfi Coast villas played a part in her approval.”
“No, it’s more the Zahkarov name.”
I snorted.
“What? You’re Russian nobility. Mamma is a domestic goddess. She was groomed to be a mafia wife. Her parties are legendary. She’s an amazing cook and can entertain like nobody’s business, and you should see all our properties with her knack for interior design—they’re showrooms. I’m none of that.”
“I don’t need those in my wife,” I told her.
“You don’t?”
“Are you fishing for compliments, Lusenka?” I murmured, scooting closer to her. “Besides being very responsive in bed, I admire you for your brains too.”
She emitted a husky laugh, and I loved how she melted into me. “You better.”
“You’re very resourceful. Why do the pesky work when you know exactly which people to call for their expertise, hmm?” I put my arms around her.
“I should have called Mamma immediately and not wasted your money.”
“It’s not wasted. It taught me about the finer points of married life.”
Lucy leaned away. Her mouth was twitching, but her eyes widened in mock outrage. “What?”
“Not to sweat the small stuff. I would have gotten used to that yellow painting.” Was I lying? Probably. But I didn’t like making my wife insecure about her domestic abilities. I wanted to be an encouraging husband, right? “I was incredibly insensitive. I apologize again.”
Her mouth pursed with impish humor. “You’re forgiven.”
“Thank God,” I deadpanned. “Did we just settle our first domestic dispute?”
Her tinkling laughter made my cock jump. I nuzzled her neck and felt her breathing hitch. “How about you sleep in my room tonight?”
“Hmm…I’m tempted,” she whispered. “Those were beautiful flowers, and you actually apologized.”
My teeth nipped her chin. “Wait. I have a better idea. How about that weekend trip to the Bahamas? We can fly out there this evening and be on the yacht by morning.”
“Maybe…convince me.”
I captured her lips and groaned, realizing how much I had missed kissing her for one night. Her mouth was sweet andaddictive at the same time. The urge to bear her down to the couch and fuck was overwhelming, but I didn’t want to stop and be left blue-balled because anyone could walk in on us.
I broke the kiss. “Fuck. How about you go pack and I make the arrangements?”
“You’re serious?”
“As a heart attack,” I said. “Just you and me. And there’s plenty of room on the yacht, so we don’t have to share a bed. But just to get away even for the weekend.”
“A weekend under the sun sounds good.”
“I’ll take you on a longer vacation next time.”
