“I love riding. I love the freedom of it, the excitement. It’s just a good time. But I don’t love it enough to make you sick with worry every time I do it. I don’t love anything so much that it’s worth putting you through that. I can always sell the bike.”

Raina watched him with her big brown eyes. “Only if that’s really what you want to do.”

Nick shoved several of the pillows off the bed and curled up against her back. “What I want is to make my wife happy. I don’t feel like I’m doing too great a job on that score lately.”

Raina rolled over so they were facing each other. “I am happy with you, Nick. I just want to make sure you’re happy, too. You’ve been different lately.”

He closed his eyes and breathed in her scent. It would be ridiculous to pretend he didn’t know what she meant. He’d been completely consumed by his worries over the foundation the past few weeks. If he hadn’t invested so heavily in the charity, it would be easier to distance himself from it. But he stood to lose quite a bit of money if he had to keep floating the operating costs and the building costs by himself.

When he’d married Raina, they’d done so on equal terms. He didn’t want her to ever feel that he couldn’t take care of her in the lifestyle she was accustomed to. She was used to nice things and he was sure her previous boyfriends, Silvestre especially, had been able to afford to indulge her.

“I’m sorry, sweets. I know I’ve been distracted with work lately. I’ve been falling behind because I’m so busy thinking and worrying about you. But it’s nothing I can’t handle. I promise.”

“That’s all it is? Work stuff?”

“Yeah. Once I catch up on the backlog, things will go back to normal. I promise.”

She heaved a sigh of relief. “As long as that’s all it is. You’ve been patient with me. Now it’s my turn.”

“It’s your fault, you know?” Nick kissed her jaw. “If you weren’t so beautiful, I wouldn’t be so distracted all the time.”

Raina chuckled. “I never thought I’d say this, but keep lying to me. I know I look awful because I feel like such a mess.”

Nick kissed her neck and took the strap of her nightgown between his teeth. He moved it to the side so he could reach the soft skin on her shoulder.

“Nick? What are you doing?” Raina let out a soft sigh as he nipped her shoulder with his teeth, then soothed the spot with his tongue.

“I’m making love to my wife.” Nick thanked whoever had invented spandex because the straps of her gown were stretchy enough for him to push them down over her arms. With a few more tugs, her breasts popped out. They already looked fuller. Rounder.

He licked the tips gently, aware that they might be more sensitive. Raina let out another soft sigh, her nails digging into his arm. “God, I love it when you do that.”

He continued downward, tugging the gown with him as he went. She lifted her hips, allowing him to slide it off. He tugged at her white cotton panties next. Finally she was bare before him. He licked her and she reared up off the bed.

“You really are more sensitive, aren’t you? Oh, the fun I’m going to have with you.”

Nick moved closer, wrapping her legs around his neck. Her hands went into his hair immediately, which made him growl against her. She shrieked when he licked her again. Longer. Deeper. He looked up her stomach, loving the look on her face as he traced over her skin with his tongue. Her head fell back as she came under him, her flesh contracting against his mouth.

He pulled back slightly so he could get his boxers off. Remembering what the book said, he urged her over onto her knees. “We’re not supposed to have you on your back. So I guess that means I get to look at your delectable little bottom for the next nine months.”

She chuckled and pushed back against him, wiggling her bottom at him. “I hope you like the view, then.”

“Oh, I love the view.” He leaned down and nipped at the sexy indentation where her spine curved into her ass. Then he entered her slowly, gently, giving her time to adjust to him.

She arched her back and pushed back against him, taking him deeply. Nick barked out a cry at the sudden, erotic sensation of being surrounded by her. “Damn, do that again.”

Raina looked over her shoulder at him and bit her lip. She leaned forward, allowing him to slip almost all the way free, then she pushed back against him again, taking his full length in one thrust. Nick gritted his teeth against the overwhelming need to come.

“You like being in control, sweets?”

She nodded, her tongue between her teeth as she watched him with a sexy smile. “I like taking you.”

“Hell, yeah. You can take me anytime.” He rested his hands gently on her backside and allowed her to set the pace. She took him slowly at first, each thrust forceful and deep. Then she increased the tempo, her motions becoming jerky as she got closer and closer to her own orgasm. He could tell she was getting near to climaxing by the sounds she made and the way her nails curled into the sheets beneath her.

“Help me, Nick,” she moaned. She came with a cry, nearly collapsing beneath him as she tightened around him.

He reached beneath her and captured her ripe breasts, holding them in his hands as he thrust. With every motion he felt like he was giving her something more than just sex. He felt like he was showing her the depth of his feelings. As he came, he thought maybe she could hear what his body was saying.