“Nowhere else I’d rather be than wherever you are. Sorry it’s always such a production.”

“I’m all for keeping you safe. Whatever it takes.”

“Sometimes it’s too much for me. It really is. I feel like a circus animal locked behind the gilded cage.”

“It’s an adjustment. In a year, it’ll be old hat, and you’ll be used to it.”

“I hope so, because four months in, I’m ready to break out and run for it.”

“Don’t you dare.”

His low chuckle made her smile. “Reminds me of the first time I wore a tie and felt like it was literally choking me to death. I couldn’t stop touching it, looking for relief.”

Because he seemed to need the distraction and because Brant was riding in the front seat, Sam cupped Nick’s groin. “I know that feeling. I can’t stop touching it, looking for relief.”

His bright smile lit up his eyes. “Are you trying to change the subject, my love?”

“Just trying to get your mind off the confinement. Is it working?”

“You tell me.”

“Hmm,” she said, stroking him through his jeans until he was hard as a rock under her hand. “It seems to be having the desired effect. A whole different kind of confinement.”

“If you build it, you must tend to it.”

“Is that a rule?”

“A new rule.”

She glanced at the front seat and then tugged at the button to his jeans.

He stopped her with a hand over hers. “Not here.”

“Come on. They’ll never know.”

“Not here.”

She made a pout face at him. “You’re absolutely no fun.”

“You know otherwise.” He kept his hand over hers, pressing her palm against his hard length. “I’m feeling terribly depressed and confined. I need you to take my mind off my troubles the minute we get home.”

“The minute?”

“The very second we walk in the door.”

“Someone ought to warn poor Shelby.”

Chapter Eighteen

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

NICK LAUGHED AND kissed her neck, which sent shivers spiraling down her spine. Apparently shivers on her spine led to an ache between her legs. How did he do that so easily? That was one of the great unsolved mysteries of her life, one she was more than happy to keep mysterious.

As they got out of the car at home, she noticed how he kept his coat strategically positioned over the front of him, and a tight grip on her hand. They were ushered into the house by the agent at the door.

Shelby was asleep on the sofa.

Sam took off her coat and tossed it over the sofa, earning a glare from her neatnik husband. “Can I take your coat, honey?” she asked with a cheeky grin.

“I’ll keep it on, thank you.”

Sam laughed, which earned her another furious glare as he tugged her through the house. “Shelby—”