Page 81 of Modern Romance November 2024 5-8

He again refused to look at her breasts, or at her soft stomach, or even to focus too much on her face. Her eyes were tightly closed, and she gave just the occasional grimace, but then he felt her hips loosen and saw her slight smile.

‘Better?’

‘Somewhat...’

At least she was moving her legs now, and her back looked less stiff, though he knew she would not be telling him that she’d just found out what ‘saddle sore’ really meant.

Sahir knew, of course. And knew she must be in agony. But he would not be offering to sort that out. It was just nice to see her more relaxed.

‘Walk around,’ Sahir suggested. ‘Loosen up.’

‘I feel loose,’ she said.

Too loose and limp to move. Though she made a half-hearted attempt to put her arm over her breasts, but then gave in and let it fall by her side.

‘I don’t want to move.’

‘Then don’t,’ Sahir said. ‘But I won’t be offering to move you to the lounge.’

She gave a half-laugh at the very notion and he lay down beside her.

‘You might get a couple of bruises; your shoulders were very tight.’

‘I’ll forgive you,’ she said, feeling all floaty from his hands, and perhaps too relaxed to be subtle as her mind flitted like a lazy butterfly to the next topic. ‘If your parents slept apart, how did your father notice your mother’s bruises?’

‘Perhaps they had the occasional...’ He nudged her. ‘Please don’t make me think about that.’

She laughed a little, then they both fell quiet.

Soon it would be time for goodbye.

‘What time do we leave?’ she asked.

‘Sunset.’

They lay listening to the wind, and she could feel her eyes getting heavy. She loved nothing more than the thought of dozing in his arms.

‘We’ve never actually slept together,’ she said, and smiled.

‘We’re sleep virgins,’ Sahir said.

Then together they laughed at his little joke and it seemed to startle them both.

They turned their faces to each other.

‘Sahir...’ she grumbled, and he saw her pretty lips pouting.

That gesture had always annoyed him in the past. Seriously. Usually he did not like sulking or pouting. And yet with Violet it felt more like a code...a secret only he knew. Or was it the subtle shift in tone that alerted him to more than her pretty mouth?

‘I’m so sore,’ she said.

‘I know.’

‘I don’t think you know where...’

‘I said nothing would happen.’

‘Please take it back.’

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