Page 63 of Modern Romance Collection May 2024 Books 1-4

The second night they’d been together, when they’d skipped dinner and gone into his kitchen at midnight, looking for food. Ajax hadn’t had a clue where anything was, but he’d managed to find a chicken salad and some bread. Erin had teased him about his lack of culinary skills.

Ajax continued, ‘Something you said stuck with me...about how could I be self-sufficient if I couldn’t even boil an egg?’

Erin winced. Sometimes she was too straight. ‘I’m sorry... I didn’t mean it as an insult.’

He looked at her over the bowl, where he was now whisking the eggs like a professional. ‘No, you did me a huge favour. I taught myself how to boil an egg and then I kept going. I make a mean omelette now. I can’t say I’ve added too much to my repertoire, but I’m hoping to master a decent roast chicken at some point.’

‘The easiest thing in the world,’ said Erin, trying to ignore the way her insides felt as if they were melting and somersaulting at the same time.

Ajax was now transferring the eggs to a warmed pan and adding in some things she couldn’t see. But it smelled delicious. After a few minutes he came over and put a plate down in front of her. A perfectly fluffy omelette, garnished with fresh herbs and some bread.

She looked up at him, mouth agape. And then she shut it again. She was starving. She tasted the omelette and closed her eyes in appreciation.

Ajax poured wine into two glasses and put one down for her. He took another seat.

When she’d swallowed some more food and a sip of wine she said, ‘Not hungry?’

His eyes were hooded and the gleam in them was wicked. He said, ‘Oh, I am—but not for food.’

Erin refused to let him see how that affected her. Like a match to dry tinder. She was very conscious of her dress and the amount of skin she was showing. She forced herself to finish the omelette and eat some bread, even though her appetite had suddenly diminished.

She took another sip of wine and said, ‘That was delicious, thank you. I should go up now...check on Ashling.’

‘She’s fine. I checked when I came in.’

Another tummy somersault. She ignored it. ‘I’m still going to bed.’

She stood up, the silk folds of her dress falling to the floor. She must look ridiculous. Ajax didn’t stand up. He sat in a louche sprawl in the chair, his bow tie undone, jacket gone. Stubble on his jaw.

He said, ‘You know where I am, Erin.’

She refrained from saying anything and swept out of the kitchen with as much grace as she could muster, all but running to her bedroom as soon as she was out of his eyeline.

She got inside her room and kicked off her sandals, then went silently to the nursery. Her heart expanded when she saw Ashling asleep, lashes long on her cheeks. She pulled up the thin blanket and put her hand on her belly for a minute, feeling the rise and fall of her breath.

Once again she was struck by how protective she felt. She would never do anything to harm this child. In moments like this the betrayal of her mother was as acute as it had been almost twenty-five years ago. She would do anything to spare Ashling the same pain, and if that meant ensuring they kept Ajax at a distance then so be it.

The door to Damia’s room was ajar. Erin took the spare baby monitor into her own room and changed into sleeping shorts and a singlet top, washed her face and got into bed.

But an hour later she was still lying there. Wide awake. Restless. Eventually she fell into a fitful sleep and a disturbing dream, in which she was at a party but was encased in ice and couldn’t move. No one was looking at her. They couldn’t see her. She was trying to grab their attention. And then Ajax was there, but not looking at her. He was with another woman. Erin was sobbing and calling out, begging for him to notice her—

And then she woke up, sitting straight up in bed, heart pounding, skin slick with perspiration. Still that awful icy cold lingered, reaching all the way into her heart.

She didn’t think—she acted on instinct. She got out of bed and took the baby monitor with her. She left her room and walked down the corridor to Ajax’s room, pushed open the door. He lay in a sprawl on the bed. Naked.

As she approached he woke up and came up on an elbow. His voice was rough. ‘Erin...?’

She put down the baby monitor and lifted her arms, taking off the singlet top. She pulled down the shorts and climbed into his bed beside him. He looked stunned. She might have appreciated it more if she hadn’t had the overwhelming lingering dread of that dream in her blood.

He touched her jaw. ‘Am I dreaming?’

She shook her head. ‘No, I’m real. Make love to me, Ajax.’

There was no triumph in his gaze, just pure desire as he pulled her over him and speared his hands in her hair, drawing her face down to his so he could kiss her. She revelled in feeling his body under hers, so strong and warm. His heart beat against hers. Her breasts were crushed to his chest. She opened her legs and he moved her subtly, so she was lined up with where his body was hardening.

There was practically no sound apart from their laboured breathing as he joined their bodies with one thrust. Erin sat back, putting her hands on his chest as she rode him, moving up and down. Ajax put his hands on her hips, holding her as he pumped into her, making her gasp out loud.

The orgasm broke over Erin almost before she had time to register it was coming. Ajax flipped them over, so he was on top, and just before he came he pulled free of Erin’s embrace, so she felt the hot warmth of his climax on her belly.

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