Page 61 of Modern Romance Collection May 2024 Books 1-4

She’d nearly fainted when Ajax had told them they were taking a helicopter to the other island. Her adrenaline was still pumping and Ajax’s hand was on her bare back, which wasn’t helping. She would have asked him to remove it, but she remembered that they were supposed to be together.

Maybe she could convince him that now would be an appropriately public time to have a spat. But he was steering her towards people, and she soon got used to nodding and smiling inanely as he introduced her to distant relatives and acquaintances.

Everyone was perfectly civil, but there was a distinct lack of warmth, or fun. And since when had Erin been intofun?

Since you started making love with practical strangers in elevators and jumping into swimming pools fully clothed, whispered a sly voice.

She shook her head to get rid of it.

Ajax looked at her during a break in the never-ending stream of people. ‘Okay?’

She forced a smile. ‘Fine.’

Then she felt Ajax tense beside her. A couple were approaching. Probably in their sixties. Handsome. Not unlike his parents. He greeted them with the same kind of dry air-kiss as he had his mother and then said, ‘Erin, I’d like you to meet Sofia’s parents—Mr and Mrs Karakis.’

Erin’s insides plummeted. She shook their hands, and couldn’t help blurting out, ‘I’m so sorry for your loss. I can’t imagine how devastating it has been for you.’

Sofia’s mother looked at Erin as if she had two heads. As if she’d said something completely incomprehensible. Then they moved away again.

Erin felt bewildered. ‘What just happened? Should I not have sympathised with them?’

Ajax was shaking his head. ‘No—I mean, yes, of course. Because you are from the normal world, where people experience emotions and are compassionate. But in their world it was a loss, yes, but as you can see it didn’t end their world.’

Ajax sounded a little bitter.

‘You feel the loss more keenly than they do,’ Erin observed. ‘Probably for Sofia too.’

‘I visit their graves,’ Ajax confided. ‘Mainly to see Theo, I’ll admit, but he’s buried with Sofia. There’s never any evidence of anyone else visiting.’

‘That’s really sad.’

At that moment they were interrupted by someone else, and the endless round of introductions started again. At some point the sound of soft jazz music came over the lawn and Erin swayed on the spot. She’d always enjoyed dancing.

As another couple headed their way Ajax took her hand and said, ‘Want to dance?’

Erin said gratefully, ‘Yes, please—if it means we can avoid more meaningless conversations with people trying to impress you.’

But as soon as Ajax had taken her into his arms on the dance floor, where some other couples were moving in slow circles, she realised her mistake. She was pressed against Ajax, who was obviously taking full advantage of the situation.

She looked up at him and he smiled. It was wicked.

‘You were the one who wanted to dance.’

Erin tried to put some distance between them, but it was impossible. So she gave in and let her body do exactly what it wanted: cleave itself to Ajax’s like a magnet. The thin material of her dress was no barrier to his body, sheathed in a black tuxedo. She swore she could feel every taut muscle and sinew... And then, when he moved a certain way, one muscle in particular.

She glared at him and he shrugged. ‘I can’t help it. With other women I can control myself, but not with you.’

The fire in Erin sizzled, as much as she wished it wouldn’t. He couldn’t control himself around her...?

Almost accusingly, she hissed, ‘You said this chemistry would fade.’

‘That’s been my experience with other women. But you have proved to be unique. It doesn’t feel like it’s fading to you, does it?’

She could feel the very tantalising evidence of his non-fading desire right now. She shook her head.

‘So why deny yourself?’ he whispered in her ear, his mouth almost close enough to touch her skin.

Erin tingled all over. Her mind was beginning to get blurry, but she forced herself to stay focused. ‘Because, unlike you, I do have self-control.’

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