Page 166 of Modern Romance Collection December 2024 Books 5-8

‘And I would make that choice again.’

‘How can you be so calm?’

Dante shrugged. And Emma immediately understood.

‘Because you thought there was no other choice,’ she said simply.

Her heart ached for him. For the little boy who had been sold and abandoned by his own mother. And she wanted to cry for him. For the man who chose to never risk a child of his being used as collateral.

She’d never wanted them either.Children. Never wanted to raise a child on her own. Never wanted to raise a child tobealone. Teach her—him—it was safer that way.

You aren’t alone anymore.

He scowled. ‘I made the choice to protect all parties involved.’

Emma became conscious of her own nakedness then. Aware of how intimate this conversation felt.

‘Do not worry about the choices of the man you never knew,’ he said, inching closer. ‘He was eighteen. He’d just lost his father. It was the right choice to make. He—I—would make it again.’

His hands caught her face, then cradled her cheeks as he made her meet his eyes. ‘Besides, it is a gift to be inside you without risk or consequence.’

His light-hearted tone was forced, she could tell. But she also knew that this discussion was over. And just as quickly her uncertainty was replaced by need. Unable to resist, aching for him, she kissed him.

She wanted him to pulse inside her as he had last night. She wanted him to fill her with his hardness, to push her over the edge of desire once again.

She climbed onto his lap. Slid her thighs down the bareness of his. Felt his arousal find the heart of her and tease at her entrance. She rode him, stroking herself against him.

‘Emma,’ he moaned against her lips. And she let it feed her newfound confidence in her sensuality. A sensuality he’d brought to the surface.

And it felt good to be bold. To be brave. To take this pleasure for herself simply because she wanted it. Wantedhim.

‘Lie back,’ she said as she gently guided him back into the pillows.

And then her hands were seeking his, linking and entwining them, raising them above his head and holding them there.

The tips of her breasts were teasing against his chest. She tore her mouth from his and rose above him. Taking control, exerting her power over him.

Slowly, she took the tip of him inside her, before sinking down and taking him all. Taking him deep.

Her head fell back, her mouth opened and a moan was wrenched from her. A sound she’d never heard her body emit. It was a roar. A screech. A plea.

Emma knew all she could do was trust in their connection and surrender to it. To this urge to follow her instincts and embrace it all. The connection of their minds, their bodies. For as long as it was there.

‘Ah!’He raised his hips as his hands pulled her down onto him. And it was too deep. Not deep enough.

‘Dante...’

‘I want to pour myself inside you,’ he growled. ‘I want to fill you while you pulse around me. I want to feel you tighten. Squeeze me. Until there is nothing left for me to give you.’

She lifted her hips and pushed back down. Again and again, she took him deeper than she thought her body would allow.

His breath hissed from his mouth, encouraging her to ride him faster. Take him deeper.

And Emma rode him faster.

Took him deeper.

‘I’m coming,’ she said, and this time she didn’t resist it. She leaned into it.

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