Page 205 of Modern Romance January 2025 1-4

He shoved down his jeans and she stepped towards him. He went in low, scooped her up and tumbled her back to the bed. This time there were few preliminaries. No matter. He was hard. She was hot and wet. He gazed into her eyes as he thrust home. He liked the excitement she couldn’t hide from him. Liked seeing her lose total control the second before he lost his.

It was over far too quickly. But this time he wasn’t wiped out. He was energised.

‘Not enough,’ he muttered.

He filled the bath and took her in there. Propelled her to the kitchen for sustenance and ended up taking her there again too. Then he’d had to carry her back to bed where hours passed in a haze of sexual hunger and fulfilment which was exactly what he needed. They would burn this out.

He woke with a start. Swore as he blinked at the time.

‘Wake up,cariño.’ He shook her shoulders gently. ‘Get dressed for the evening. We’ll take the helicopter.’

CHAPTER NINE

ELODIECOMBEDHERHAIR,trying to convince herself she had herself together—as if this were the sort of thing she did on the daily. Being transported in chauffeured cars and private planes accompanied by bodyguards because she was accompanying a stupendously wealthy man was no problem...and actually all that shecouldhandle.

But facing her father for the first time in years? That was the emotional catastrophe causing her nausea right now. Not Ramon. Not the fact that he’d got out of bed early this morning without her even being aware of it. Not that he’d showered and dressed and continued his campaign of corporate domination while she had no idea what time it was or where her panties were. She’d thought she’d finally got herself together after the incredible experience he’d given her last night but then he’d flummoxed her with the gift of the building and then they’d spent most of the day in bed.

Shockingly, it wasn’t enough. She’d thought last night would salve her sensual ache, not make itworse. But it was definitely worse evenaftertoday’s luxurious sensual marathon. And the problem was that if everything went to plan tonight, both their other ‘needs’ would be met. Ashleigh’s engagement would be ended while Ramon would have the paperwork to secure that property. There’d be no reason for their ‘marriage’ to last that much longer. She was sure he wasn’t serious about the six months. From the little she could gather online, the man had short relationships and not many because he was ruthlessly focused on his work.

So actually Ramon totally bothered her. Or rather the feelings he aroused in her did. And now she had to face herfatheras well and she hadn’t faced him in years.

She would need every ounce of armour to get through the ordeal. She built it from the ground up—shoes, dress, jewellery, make-up, hair. She knew the purple gown was striking, especially with the diamonds glittering and the fake ruby gleaming. It ought to be too much but for an occasion like this it was perfectly over the top. She stepped out to meet him, eyes widening when she saw his suit. Immaculately tailored, it was the colour of her ruby engagement ring. Again, it should clash with her purple, but they were a match. Sartorially. Sexually.

That hunger in her awakened anew. ‘I’m impressed,’ she muttered almost grudgingly.

‘At last,’ he said dryly before flashing her a wicked grin. ‘I like dressing up for you, Elodie. I like you dressing up for me. I likeundressingyou even more. But all our efforts will have been for nothing if we don’t even make it out the door. ‘

He made her laugh. If he’d really done it to please her it had worked.

She ran her thumb over the back of her ring. ‘You really think your cousin will call off this engagement just because you’re married?’

‘I’m certain he will.’

Quelling those rising nerves, she stared out of the window of the helicopter and then in the car, not bothered that Ramon worked the entire time. It gave her a chance to practice breathing. She needed to—her lungs grew more constricted the nearer they got.

‘How long since you’ve been back?’ He broke into her spiralling thoughts.

She realised the car was approaching her parents’ place and went cold all over. ‘Over three years.’

The hotel’s former seaside glory was long gone. Honestly, she was surprised it was still standing. Her father—for all his loud bluster—wasn’t the best businessman, cut corners on upkeep and it was probably only because of the stunning views and the proximity to the sea that it had survived this long. Well, that and the tireless work her mother and sister did behind the scenes.

‘You didn’t miss it?’ He watched her.

‘The beach, absolutely.’ But not the endless unpaid shifts as housemaid. She felt bad she’d left her sister to do that on her own.

‘I moved to London and fell on my feet at that job at the escape room. I was so lucky.’

She’d met Phoebe there on one of her first shifts when Phoebe had been a guest on a corporate team-building day. It had been the start of the best friendship. And she’d grown confidence in discovering she was good at the work. The increasing responsibility and the respect the owner had given her had proven it. But all that confidence fled from her now.

‘How are we going to do this?’ She had to actively draw in a breath.

‘As quickly as possible,’ Ramon said. ‘So I can have you alone again.’ He took her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze.

But as they walked inside she felt as if she were walking into an icebox. Never had she been so cold. He slowed on their way through the reception area and frowned at the frames behind the counter.

‘You’re excluded from family photos?’

‘They trade on it being a family hotel.’ Elodie winced. ‘My behaviour was not “family-friendly”.’

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