Page 50 of Modern Romance Collection May 2024 Books 1-4

It was just physical. As he’d said, it would burn out—even if it felt as if it was burning brighter and hotter now than it had even on that first night.

When they’d returned to the villa, Ajax stopped beside Erin, outside her bedroom door. They looked at each other. Her heart thumped. The air crackled between them with unspoken desire. She went inside, checked on Ashling—who was asleep, with Damia’s door open nearby—and then went back out to Ajax, who was waiting.

He held out a hand. Erin took it, even as she felt, superstitiously, that some line she couldn’t see was being crossed.

In Ajax’s room they were naked and on his bed in seconds. Ajax’s big body was moving over hers with such mastery that Erin could only hope he wouldn’t see how he triggered her emotions. She couldn’t deny it here...naked. She could only ride the wave and pray that when she was washed up on the shore again she would still be in one piece.

When Ajax woke the following morning it was early. The bed was empty beside him, but he wasn’t surprised now—even if he didn’t like it.

And since when had he wanted to wake up with a woman?

Since Erin.

He scowled. His body was heavy with sensual satisfaction, and yet he could already feel the edge of hunger forming again, just thinking of the previous night and how he’d felt he would die if he didn’t sink into Erin’s tight, slick embrace before taking another breath.

It would burn out.

It had to.

And yet even as Ajax automatically formed that thought, a part of him was asking,what if it doesn’t?

He didn’t dwell on that ridiculous notion—because desire always burnt out.

He got up and showered and dressed, then left his room, stopping by Erin’s bedroom door.

He pushed it open and saw that she was in bed, on her back, in a T-shirt. Even seeing her clothed turned the spark into a flame deep in his belly.

Not burning out yet.

She was fast asleep.

He heard a sound and looked towards the open door leading into the nursery. Even though he felt the urge to turn and walk away, not to engage, he went into the room.

Ashling was standing in the cot, hands on the bar, gabbling to herself, quite content. Then she saw him, and for a second Ajax held his breath, expecting her to cry. After all, he’d barely engaged with her at all.

But she didn’t cry. She smiled. And Ajax’s chest swelled so much he couldn’t breathe. Somehow he found his way to breathing again and his feet took him over to the cot.

Ashling immediately held up her arms. Ajax lifted her and closed his eyes against the wave of déjà vu.

He’d told himself he would never feel this again...the soft, heavy weight of a child. But here he was.

Ashling looked up at him and said something unintelligible. Ajax knew that there was no going back from this moment.

Just then, a sleepy Damia appeared in the doorway, tying a robe around herself. She said, ‘I’m so sorry, Mr Nikolau. I didn’t hear her.’

He shook his head. ‘She wasn’t crying. It’s fine. I’ve got this—you go back to bed and get some sleep.’

‘Are you sure?’

He nodded and she left, closing the door. A familiar pungent smell hit Ajax’s nostrils. He wrinkled his nose and looked at his daughter. ‘Ah, yes...the not so pleasant bits of parenting... Let’s see if I can remember what to do, hmm?’

Ashling just looked at him with a wisdom beyond her years, as if to say,I’ll indulge you for now, but don’t push it, and Ajax pressed a kiss to her head, silently praying that he could cope with the fear and hope that it didn’t consume him.

When Erin woke she was disorientated. Alone in her bed. Then it came back in a rush. The urgency that had gripped her and Ajax. The aftermath when she’d felt torn apart but also more whole than she’d ever felt.

That was what had spurred her to leave his bed as he’d slept. She’d checked on Ashling, showered, and then crawled into her own bed. And now... She squinted a look out through the windows and sat up in a panic. Now the sun was high.

She jumped out of bed and went straight into the nursery, to find it empty. Damia must have taken Ashling down for breakfast.

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