Page 36 of Modern Romance November 2024 5-8

‘Ready.’

She wasn’t begging, she was tempting him. And her mouth was right by his, and she was completely free to be herself, to cajole and tease. Because he made it so...

His shirt was crisp beneath her palms and she thought of the skin beneath, and of tasting his breath while locked with his eyes. And whatevertakhatarikisses were, they must be sharing them again, because she could feel her breath catching, feel him hardening against her stomach...

Violet vowed to herself that if he didn’t kiss her this second, she would walk away.

Fortunately, there was no need to walk away.

Because he answered her demand, his lips lightly brushing her own.

The soft contact was so welcome it almost made her startle, because it was all that had been missing. He cosseted her lips, indulged them tenderly till they were attuned to his. And then he delivered more...still soft, but a deeper peek at further treasures as his tongue met the tip of hers.

For Violet, this was usually the moment she involuntarily rebelled—the moment when her body shrilled because it was too close to another. Were she with another man right about now she’d revolt—pull her head back in alarm, press her lips closed. Tonight, though, or rather with Sahir, it felt exactly right and, closing her eyes, she found there was only the soft thrill of bliss, followed by a new and fervent desire to reciprocate.

I’m kissing, Violet thought as their mouths meshed softly. And he allowed her tongue to toy with his until she had to taste him more deeply and he obliged.

His hand moved to the back of her head, exerting a gentle pressure as his mouth took command. And the crush of his lips, the slow revelling of his tongue, had the fire that had been kindling in Violet igniting, shooting flame in directions she’d never so much as sought before.

She was by far too eager as her hands came to his hips, tugging at his shirt, desperate to feel his skin, yearning for a deeper taste. To be guided straight to more bliss.

Sahir must have felt her need for escalation, and yet he refused to reciprocate, or cave to her demand. Instead she felt the sure placement of his hands on her cheeks as he moved his mouth back.

‘We’re being called.’

‘No.’

Oh, but they were—she could hear Carter’s voice.

‘Where’s Sahir?’

They stood, foreheads resting on each other, as Grace joined in with the search.

‘I have to say goodbye to Violet.’

There was no avoiding the world.

‘Go that way.’

Sahir pointed to an exit she hadn’t even seen.

‘It will take you out by the restroom. And tidy up,’ he told her, while tucking his shirt in, then straightening his tie ‘I’ll say I had to make a phone call.’ He gave a wry laugh. ‘Actually, I do.’

And then what?she wanted to ask, unsure if this was it—if a kiss was the only wish she’d be granted.

But rather than ask, she wiped her lip-gloss from his cheek...oh, and the other one. Gosh, even his chin.

Yes, she’d better go and tidy up!

And now, after such a nice kiss, she was being shown the red card.

‘I’ll say goodbye here...’ Sahir told her.

‘Okay.’

‘I have appointments tomorrow, and then I fly...’

‘You already said.’

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