Page 94 of Modern Romance January 2025 1-4

All this time she’d fretted that he found celibacy easy! Lex had just been good at hiding his feelings.

It was unreasonable to feel angry, but she felt such a fool. She’d worried that he didn’t want her anymore, worried about her own unrequited desire. Letting it distract her from the serious issue of deciding her child’s future.

Because you’re scared you already know the most sensible solution?

Because you don’t want to take that step without love?

The doors slid open, straight into the foyer of Lex’s apartment, but Lex didn’t move. He stared down at her, black eyebrows furrowing. ‘After all this, you still don’t trust me, Portia?’

She drew a deep breath.

Once upon a time she’d trusted him more than anyone. She’dbelievedin him. But he hadn’t believed in her and his desertion had broken her heart. Her world had shattered and the injury to her confidence and optimism had taken a long time to heal. His recent, heartfelt apology had helped.

Now she was recovered, happy with who she was. But his appearance in her life had scared her. She didn’t want to be that dependent person again, vulnerable to heartbreak. Sherefusedto be that vulnerable person.

But it was too late to corral her feelings for Lex into some tiny, safe box. They were too big. Too real.

There was a hiss as the doors closed. He ignored the movement as if nothing mattered but her answer. Gradually hurt replaced his expression of challenge.

Immediately she reached out, her hand settling on his pristine shirt, between the lapels of his formal jacket. Heat saturated her palm and she detected the heavy thud of his heart.

Her own heart tripped then settled to the same beat.

‘Idotrust you, Lex. I wouldn’t be here otherwise.’

His eyes held hers. ‘And?’

She trembled. He wanted her complete capitulation.

Yet even now, ensnared by this enormous truth, marriage was a step too far. The shadows of doubt and fear still hovered. Instead she admitted the easy truth.

‘I trust you, Lex, and I want you. I want to share your bed again. Can we—?’

His mouth cut off her words.

Not with a gentle kiss but with the deep passion that shot them both to the edge of desperation. Lex knew her body, her desires. He knew how to kiss her till she was mindless with pleasure and frantic for him.

She felt that same passion resonate through him. His hold was firm, yet a tremor of arousal coursed through his strong body.

When he lifted his head enough to look into her eyes, Portia was amazed she could still stand. Surely her bones had liquefied. But of course he supported her, strong arms wrapped around her. They pressed together from breast to thigh, her body moulding to his.

Their breaths came in short gasps and her pulse thrummed out of control.

‘You really doubted that I wanted you?’

With his erection solid against her, that seemed laughable. ‘I did. I thought you’d lost interest in me as a woman.’

Bewilderment showed in his darkened gaze for a moment, then a laugh exploded from his lips. A glorious laugh that made her mouth curl.

‘Lost interest? Lost interest!Chrysi mou, how could you think for a moment...?’

‘Okay. Maybe I wasn’t thinking clearly. Maybe pregnancy temporarily addled my brain.’ And worry and her own distracting desire.

His arms wrapped more firmly around her so she stood between his thighs, her neck arched and his face tilted down to hers. Slowly his amusement drained.

‘I can’t imagine a world in which I don’t want you.’

The words went straight to Portia’s heart. She had to remind herself they were talking about physical desire, not love. But the way he looked at her, and the way she felt, that was enough for now.

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