Page 1 of Modern Romance Collection May 2024 Books 1-4

Heir for His Empire

Abby Green

“I’ve dreamed of you...”

Ajax moved closer. Erin didn’t step away, even though she knew she should, but right now she couldn’t quite remember why. She was caught up in the intensity of Ajax’s proximity and the way he was looking at her, and so when his head lowered toward her and his mouth touched hers, she felt nothing but a wild surge of desire.

Had he asked if he could kiss her? She didn’t care. She’d given her assent just by accepting it. His mouth moved over hers, more insistent. Asking a question. Erin answered without hesitation, her mouth opening under his, allowing him to deepen the contact.

He moved closer, wound an arm around her back and pulled her into him where she could feel the hard thrust of his desire for her. It sent arrows of need right to her core, where she was melting and—

Ajax pulled his head back abruptly. “What’s that sound?”

It took a second for Erin to register the cry of her baby. She reacted instantly, pushing free of Ajax’s arms, and ran to the bedroom.

PROLOGUE

THESEXUALTENSIONbetween Erin Murphy and the man in the elevator was thick enough to cut with a knife. A million and one sensations fizzed through her blood and body. Triumph. The satisfaction of a job well done. But more than all that was desire.

But even the worddesirewas too polite. It was sheer, raw lust. And danger. Illicitness.

Because the man was no mere man. He was her boss. Not even her boss. He was her boss’s, boss’s boss. With probably a couple more bosses in between.

It had been building for the last few weeks, while they’d been locked in rooms with the most intense negotiations taking place.

Obviously she’d been aware of how gorgeous he was. How sexy. The whole world knew it, and it had hit her right between the eyes the day she’d been hired on to his legal team as an attorney, proving she was no different from the masses. But she’d buried it down deep—because she knew it wassoinappropriate to fancy him, and because she was eager to make a good impression. This was her first job since completing a master’s degree in corporate law, and she’d been hired specifically because of that additional expertise.

She’d thought she’d had her crush under control. Until these last few weeks of being in the professional equivalent of a pressure cooker.

Ajax Nikolau was a Greek god. Or, as near to a god as a mortal could be. Beautiful, with mesmeric deep-set green-blue eyes that popped from a chiseled face, and a mouth that called to mind sin and sex. Thick wavy dark hair. Tall, powerful build. Athletic. He wore suits, but the way they moulded to his sculpted form was downright provocative.

Together with a mind as sharp as a rapier, it was a potent combination.

He was also, arguably, one of the wealthiest men in the world—since approximately an hour ago, when the last contract had been signed. He now had full control of his family logistics business. He’d been rich before—astronomically—but now he was on a par with fabled Indian steel magnates and media titans.

But Erin didn’t care about any of that. Because it didn’t mean anything to her beyond the fact that she’d done her job. All she could see washim.The man. Flesh and blood. Sinew and bone. Hard muscle. Eyes blazing with a heat that connected directly to her core in a way that had never happened to her before.

They’d had champagne to celebrate with the rest of the team after the signing, and the sparkling wine still lingered in her veins like bubbling electricity. She couldn’t believe that this was happening. Even though nothing had actually been articulated. It was in the air. Potent.

Just moments ago they’d been in the foyer of Ajax Nikolau’s office building in downtown Manhattan, and as Erin had been about to leave, along with the rest of the legal team, he’d called her name.

She’d turned around, fixing a polite smile to her face. ‘Yes?’

‘I have some papers in my home office. I think it’s best if you take them for safekeeping. Is that okay?’

Erin had frowned briefly. The last thing Ajax Nikolau had to worry about was the security of anything. The man was more well-guarded than a head of state. Along with his offices, he had properties strewn from one end of the globe to the other. So it had been an odd request.

But then she’d looked into his eyes and she’d seen the veneer of civility stripped away.

He wants me.

It had hit her like a thunderbolt right in the gut. She’d suspected, but whenever she’d caught him watching her over the previous weeks she’d looked away, telling herself she was being ridiculous. Mortified to have been caught looking at him.

Why on earth would a man like Ajax Nikolau be remotely interested in a woman like her? She didn’t incite men to paroxsyms of desire. Especially not men like him. She was reasonably fit. Her features were symmetrical enough. But there was nothing about her that drew attention, and that was how she liked it.

Except now she was in this elevator, withhim, and she had to face the unbelievable fact that somehow she’d drawn the eye of one of the most exciting men in the world. There wasn’t enough oxygen going to her brain for her to try and figure out why.

This was, without a doubt, the most spontaneous, out-of-character thing she’d ever done in her life.

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