Page 43 of Modern Romance Collection May 2024 Books 1-4

Erin’s fingers speared his hair, holding his head. She writhed against him, unconsciously seeking more. Seeking for him to fill the aching centre of her body.

A voice broke through the heat haze in her brain. It took her a second to figure out that someone was speaking in Greek through the intercom. Erin tugged Ajax’s head back up and almost slid to the floor. His eyes were heavy-lidded, dark blue with desire, his cheeks slashed with colour.

At that moment he registered the voice too and stood upright, pulling Erin’s clothes back into place. She was shaking.

Ajax said something rapid in response to the voice. He looked at Erin.

She caught a glimpse of her reflection in one of the mirrors and let out a squeak. Her hair was on end and her top was askew, showing half a breast. She smoothed her hair and adjusted her clothes.

Ajax said in a rough voice, ‘Ready?’

Erin nodded. She couldn’t trust herself to speak. He took her hand and pushed a button. The elevator resumed its progress downwards. The doors opened and Erin couldn’t look the doorman in the eye.

Luckily Ajax’s car was right outside and she all but dived into the back seat, face burning with a mixture of shame, embarrassment, and also a very illicit excitement. This man brought out a side of her that had never existed before. Not even at college.

The car journey back to the villa was made in silence, but the air was thick enough to cut with a knife. Ajax was a couple of feet away from her, but she could still feel his heat. The impressions his hands had left on her skin...her breasts. They still throbbed, the peaks sensitised. Between her legs she felt molten.

Was he just going to walk away and say goodnight? That would be the wise thing to do. Not to relive the past. So if he did she wouldn’t betray how much she wanted him.

But when the car pulled to a stop outside the main door Ajax came and held out a hand to help her out. He didn’t let go. They went inside. Wordlessly, he led her upstairs. They stopped outside Erin’s bedroom and he said, ‘Do you want to check her?’

The implication was clear. It wasn’t over.

Erin nodded. She slipped inside and stood at Ashling’s cot. The little girl was in more or less the same position as when she’d left her. The door to Damia’s room was ajar. The baby monitor was on. She took her own anyway, just in case.

She kicked off her sandals and left her clutch behind. She went back to the corridor, where Ajax was waiting. He took her hand again and led her down to his room. Closing the door behind them.

Erin put the baby monitor down.

He moved closer and took her arm, removing the bangle. She took off the other jewellery. He led her over to the bed. The room was dimly lit. The French doors were open, allowing a warm breeze to flow through.

Ajax stood in front of her and said, ‘I want you, Erin. This isn’t over between us.’

She looked at Ajax. ‘I’m not sure what “this” is,’ she admitted, ‘but I want you too.’

He cupped her jaw. ‘It’ll burn out...we just didn’t give it time.’

As ifitwas an entity. Maybe it was. Maybe it would burn out. For him. Erin couldn’t ever imagine not wanting him. But then she was less experienced, and so—

Ajax kissed the swirling thoughts out of her head, pulling her to him with his two big hands on her waist. Then he moved them over her back. He opened the clasp at the back of her neck.

The top of the jumpsuit fell away, exposing her breasts. Ajax looked at her, eyes hot. She couldn’t wait. She reached for his shirt and undid it, pulling it open, over his shoulders, down and off. She undid his trousers, pulled down his zip, the backs of her fingers brushing against his body and making him suck in a breath.

She stopped, looked up.

He replaced her hands with his and quickly stripped until he was naked. Then he found the clasp at the side of her jumpsuit and opened it, pulling down the zip. The rest of the jumpsuit fell down to the floor and she stepped out of it, wearing nothing but her underwear.

‘Get on the bed. I’ve waited for this for so long.’

That admission landed somewhere that made her feel a little vulnerable, so she shut it out and focused on the physical. Her skin felt hot and tight. She did as he asked, lying back, looking up at him. He was magnificent. All hard muscle and sinew. A smattering of dark hair across his chest. Narrow waist.

He put on protection and then pushed her legs apart. He said, ‘I need this—you—now. Okay?’

Erin nodded wordlessly, humbled by the evidence of his attraction to her. How had she not seen it?

He lodged his body in between her legs and took her in one smooth, cataclysmic thrust. She was ready for him, but she still gasped at the sensation of his body joining hers, stealing every last breath and any rational thought. She also—dangerously—felt emotional. She hadn’t thought she’d experience this again with him.

He moved, slowly, torturously, in and out, letting their bodies get reacquainted, but it wasn’t long before need gripped them both and their movements became more and more urgent, frenzied.

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