Page 44 of Modern Romance Collection May 2024 Books 1-4

They reached their peak at the same time, both bodies taut, pressed against each other, before spiralling down and down into the never-ending waves of pleasure.

Ajax’s body was heavy over Erin’s for a long moment. She revelled in it, holding him to her as the breeze whispered over their sweat-slicked skin. And before she could stop it the ebbing waves of pleasure were pulling her down into a deep state of relaxation.

She didn’t notice when Ajax pulled free of her body and went to the bathroom, nor, when he came back and got back into the bed beside her, pulling the sheet over them and curling himself around her body.

When Ajax woke he was alone in the bed. Dawn had broken. It was the second time Erin had left the bed before he’d woken, making him feel exposed. Discombobulated. On all counts where this woman was concerned nothing had ever gone to plan.

Like his intention to keep the boundaries between them in spite of his desire. But last night...in that flimsy, silky jumpsuit...the boundaries had been burnt to ash. He’d almost taken her in that elevator. The second time he hadn’t been able to control himself in a confined space with her.

Clearly there was unfinished business between them, and he wouldn’t feel a sense of control again until whatever this was between them had burnt itself out. If he hadn’t let her go when he had, nearly two years ago, maybe he would have known about her pregnancy at the start and things would be very different now.

How, exactly?asked a sly voice.

Ajax ignored it. He got out of bed and showered and dressed.

He heard the sound of the baby’s babbling before he saw her. He felt a clutch of his gut, the urge to turn around and go in the opposite direction, but something made him stop. And go towards her.

Erin and Damia and Ashling—in a highchair—were on the terrace, having breakfast. They all looked at him, and Ajax fought down the prickling feeling of panic and exposure.

He met Erin’s eyes. As before, when they’d slept together that first time, she looked composed and as if nothing had happened. Her hair was still damp from showering. She looked fresh in a sleeveless top that turned out to be a sundress, he saw, when she stood up momentarily to pick up the spoon Ashling had dropped to the ground.

The housekeeper came out with coffee for Ajax. He sat down. Damia excused herself and left them alone. Ajax willed Erin to look at him, but she was fussing with Ashling, who was looking at him with big eyes—brown and green, like her mother’s. Other than that, she’d inherited his colouring. Thick dark hair and dark golden skin.

It was the first time he’d really taken her in, and something about that shamed him now.

As if sensing his focus on her, the baby held out the spoon she’d just dropped. Ajax knew he was on shaky ground, and that if he stayed here, engaged with her, he would be blasting apart the walls that had protected him for the last few years.

He was taking a risk. But he couldn’t look away from her.

In spite of the fear, he put out a hand. ‘For me?’

Ashling smiled. Something turned over in Ajax’s chest.

He took it. ‘Thank you.’

She smiled again, showing glimpses of emerging teeth. When he glanced at Erin she was looking at him warily. But then she schooled her expression and went back to feeding the baby what looked like a mixture of yoghurt and fruit.

‘You were up early,’ he said.

A little colour washed into her cheeks. ‘I didn’t want the baby to wake you.’

‘Her name is Ashling,’ Ajax pointed out, with not a little irony.

Ashling reacted.‘Abba!’

‘I don’t think it was a good idea...last night,’ Erin said in a low voice, as if he might not know what she meant.

Everything in Ajax rejected that. ‘I think it was inevitable.’

She shook her head. ‘We shouldn’t...again.’

‘No one is forcing you into anything, Erin.’ He watched more colour flood her cheeks. Good. Maybe she was remembering that she’d been with him every step of the way last night.

She looked at him. ‘It’s not that I don’t want to...it’s just not a good idea.’

‘Probably not,’ agreed Ajax. ‘But I think it’s obvious that it won’t be finished until we’ve let it run its course.’

She wiped Ashling’s mouth and looked at him, ‘You make it sound like a virus.’

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