Page 184 of Modern Romance Collection December 2024 Books 1-4

‘No?’ came a lazy drawl. His hand covered hers. ‘Then tell me, Alice Reynolds, what youdowant...’

‘You.’

Had she really said that? Yes, she had, and it was more than liberating...it was empowering!

‘I wantyou, Mateo Whatever-your-last-name-might-be!’

‘Are you sure, Alice?’ This time his voice was utterly serious, giving her time and space to think, to reconsider, to walk away from something she might rashly have suggested. Alice appreciated that more than she could have said and she gave the question the consideration it deserved.

‘I’m sure.’ She met his eyes steadily, even though her heart was beating madly inside her and every nerve in her body was at breaking point. ‘I’ve never done anything like this before,’ she confessed in a staccato rush. ‘I guess you could say I’ve led a sheltered life.’

‘I think I’d already deduced that, which why I’m telling you right now that, if you want to walk away from this, then you can. I might have to take several cold showers to calm my erection, but so be it.’

‘Erection...’ She rolled that sexy word on her tongue and melted.

‘Would you like to have a feel of what I’m talking about, Alice Reynolds?’

‘You’ve probably slept with way more experienced women...’

‘You mean as the ski-instructor I’m not? You turn me on. And I’m not lying when I say that I can’t remember ever being turned on by any woman like this.’

‘Really?’

‘Too much talking!’ He groaned.

He took her hand and guided it to the bulge under his jeans. Alice closed her eyes and just wanted to pass out. She fumbled with the zip, eventually managed to tug it down, then she hooked her fingers into the waistband and daringly lowered the jeans.

She looked down at the black boxers and then circled his erection through the light cotton. It was thick and impressively big. She was so wet for him that her underwear felt irritating and uncomfortable, but the connection felt too strong to break. She was turned on even more by his groan of pleasure as she reached into his boxers to feel the muscle and sinew of his hardness. Raw instinct and driving desire replaced her lack of experience. She began to stroke him in long, regular slow strokes, watching as she touched, wanting to take him in her mouth so that the connection could get even stronger. Wantinghimto do the same to her, to touch her and take her in his mouth.

‘I’m not going to be able to hold off if you keep doing that,’ he said hoarsely and then he scooped her up and began walking towards his bedroom. He carried her as though she weighed nothing. It was downright thrilling. He kicked shut the bedroom door behind them and then gently laid her on his bed as though she were a piece of delicate porcelain.

He pressed a remote and the shutters came down on the scene outside of snowy, grey twilight, leaving them in shadow. She was still fully dressed but now she watched as he shed what remained of his clothes, the jumper and the boxers, to stand completely naked in front of her. He was all gorgeous, rampant alpha male and, for tonight,all hers—a looming, heart-stopping invitation to untold pleasure.

‘Enjoying the view?’ He smiled and moved towards her. ‘My turn now...’

CHAPTER FOUR

ALICEWONDEREDWHEREthis passionate side of her had been hiding all her life. Simon had certainly not managed to locate it and yet she had never given that a second’s thought; she had simply accepted that love was something calm and controlled.

Maybe it was, she thought now in a muddled way, thrilling to his approach as he settled on the mattress and began the business ofenjoying the view.

Maybe love was calm and controlled but this thing she felt wasn’t love—it was desire.

In hindsight, she might not have loved Simon, although she’d been super-fond of him. She’d certainly neverwantedhim, not like this, not with this feeling of her whole body going up in flames.

Mateo tugged down the lined leggings which she had worn, because she’d known that they’d hardly be visible under his sweater, which almost reached her knees. She was breathing quickly as the leggings were stripped off and she squeezed her eyes tightly shut to block out any rush of self-consciousness at the sight of her pale thighs exposed to his roving gaze.

He was so beautiful and she was so...nothing to write home about.

‘Don’t...’ she heard him murmur softly. She opened one eye to look at him and saw that he was smiling.

He abandoned the striptease and moved to lie alongside her, then he manoeuvred her so that they were looking at one another, her breasts pushing against his chest, her bare legs against his.

‘Don’t what?’ she asked, both eyes open now, but shyly.

‘Close your eyes. How can you enjoy what I want to do to you if you’re not looking at me?’

‘You’re so beautiful, Mateo.’

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