Page 82 of Modern Romance Collection December 2024 Books 1-4

‘But youdowant me to be involved in my child’s life, correct?’

‘Yes. I believe a child should have two parents.’

‘A child always has two parents.’

Nell gritted her teeth. ‘That’s not what I’m asking and you know it.’

‘No, I do not know it. You wished me to be involved, so here I am, involving myself.’ The tension in the air around him had thickened and pulled taut, and now she could feel it reaching her, an electrical field prickling over her skin.

He leaned forward, elbows on his desk. ‘What, exactly, is your objection?’

She dug her nails into her palms harder. ‘I’m not upending my entire life to go and live in one of your houses. I have a job. I have friends. I don’t want to leave.’

‘What? That cluttered little flat?’ There was an edge of disdain in his voice. ‘Hardly a suitable place for a child of mine to live in. There are security issues, for a start, and also I am not in Melbourne frequently. Not only would it be safer if you and the baby were in one of my residences, it would also make visiting more efficient.’

Now it was her temper starting to rise. ‘I’m not giving up my job to—’

‘I will find you another job. It cannot be that hard to find something else to do.’ There was an unyielding note in his voice, his gaze steel that felt as if it were running straight through her.

‘But... I don’t know you,’ she burst out. ‘Why on earth would I want to live with you when you’re a complete and utter stranger to me?’

‘That can be remedied.’ He shoved back his chair and got to his feet in a sudden explosion of movement, stalking with animalistic grace around the side of his desk like some great hunting cat.

Stalking to her.

She half rose too, her heart beating out of control, but by then he was standing in front of her, leaning over her, bracing his hands on the arms of her chair. He stared down into her face, his expression so hungry and fierce she almost went up in flames there and then.

‘Tell me you don’t want me,’ he demanded, low and rough. ‘Tell me that sex with me isn’t all you’re thinking about right now.’

Her mouth had dried. All she could think about was how warm his body was, how good he smelled. How she wanted to kiss him, rip off his suit, be naked with him. Have his hot skin sliding over hers. Have his mouth on her... God, everything.

‘I... I’m not.’ Her voice was a mere scrape of sound.

He lowered his head until his mouth was millimetres from hers. ‘Liar,’ he murmured. ‘You’re thinking about it right now. You’re thinking about that night we had together and what happened in the elevator just before. You want it again. You want more. You want me.’

His lips were so close. All she’d have to do was lift her head and they would be against hers. She could taste him again. She could feel beautiful and wanted again.

He wasn’t wrong. She did want him.

‘You’re asking too much,’ she said huskily, trying to fight him and her own desire. ‘You’re asking me to change my entire life for you.’

‘Your life is going to change anyway, and so will mine.’ He bent a touch lower, his mouth even closer. ‘Spend tonight with me. Help me get rid of this chemistry. Then perhaps we can have a rational conversation.’

It was difficult to think with him so close and her body so hungry, but she tried. Spend the night with him... That didn’t sound bad. And he was right that they needed to get rid of their chemistry. How could they have a discussion about their child with that getting between them and distracting them? They’d both underestimated how strong it still was.

She tried to get some moisture into her dry mouth. ‘My flights... I have appointments...’

‘I will handle it.’ He brushed his mouth over hers in the lightest of kisses. ‘I will handle everything.’

Nell shivered. She had no doubt that he would, just as he’d handled it when she’d slipped and hurt her head. He’d got her to hospital, organised a doctor, made sure she was cared for... And after all, they really did need a clear-headed discussion about the baby. He’d said he’d be a father...

His hand moved from the arm of the chair to her coat, pulling aside the fabric, then his fingertips grazed over the curve of one breast, her hip, her thigh, before lifting again, brushing down the side of her neck to her throat, settling on the frantic beat of her pulse.

‘Say yes, Nell,’ he murmured. ‘The baby will be safe.Youwill be safe with me, I promise.’

It was strange to feel the tension slip away from her in that moment. She didn’t know him, yet she believed him. In the same way as she’d reached for his hand when she’d knocked herself out that night in Melbourne. As if her body had known who he was before her mind had. Known that he wasn’t a stranger to her, that she could be safe with him.

He meant what he said. So what would it hurt?

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