Page 96 of Modern Romance January 2025 1-4

She couldn’t think. All that mattered was this, him and her together, greater than anything that had gone before. She opened her mouth to gasp his name as the tide of climax engulfed her. But her whisper was drowned by his honey and whisky voice.

‘Now,Chrysi mou. Now!’

Ecstasy took her, piercing pleasure, the myriad sensations and purest joy. Portia surrendered to the inevitable. She was Lex’s and he was hers. That was her last thought before the world exploded in shards of gold.

CHAPTER TWELVE

LEXWHISTLEDAShe prepared a breakfast tray next morning. Portia had slept late, and who could blame her after they’d spent so many hours awake, making love?

He, on the other hand, had woken at his usual early hour, full of vigour and optimism. As well as the satisfaction of terrific sex, he felt anticipation. Surely Portia’s decision to enjoy a physical relationship again meant things were on the right track.

Last night had felt momentous. It had felt like far more than sex.

He’d been stunned by the depth of his feelings when she said she trusted him. When she declared she wanted him. When she held his gaze as they lost themselves in each other.

A shiver tightened the skin of his neck and shoulders, shooting down his backbone before coiling into his belly.

Every instinct told him that what he wanted was within his grasp. He and Portia raising their baby together. Their own family. And if it took more time to convince her, Lex was happy to use his body to persuade her.

He pushed open the bedroom door to see her emerging from his bathroom, wearing nothing but one of his business shirts and an expression of flushed well-being that made him want to tumble her onto the bed.

‘I hope you don’t mind. I wanted to shower and didn’t want to put on last night’s dress.’

Lex put the tray on the end of the bed and strode across to her, gathering her hands and planting a possessive kiss on her mouth. That was better. The taste of her lips was more delicious than any morning coffee.

With difficulty he resisted the urge to trawl her bare thighs with his fingertips then pull her hard against him. Instead, on a shaky breath, he kissed her hands.

‘Help yourself to anything in my wardrobe. You wear it much better than I do. In fact,’ he purred, leaning in to nuzzle her scented throat, ‘let’s get rid of your clothes and you can wear mine all the time.’

Her laughter sank inside him, making the day shine brighter.

‘Come on, Ms Oakhurst. I got you a piece of freshly madetyropitafrom your favourite bakery. You can eat it while it’s hot.’

Portia had developed a taste for the flaky cheese pie, finding savoury food worked better at staving off incipient nausea.

But instead of moving to the bed, her fingers curled around his, gripping tight. ‘Lex, I’ve been thinking.’

He froze, searching her face. His buoyant mood dipped at the gravity of her expression.

‘You’re right. Marriage will give our baby a good start.’

‘Not just a good start, it means...’ Lex felt his eyes bulge. ‘You agree? You’ll marry me?’

He knew last night had been a breakthrough but he hadn’t expected this.

‘Yes, Lex. I’ll marry you.’

Yes! He wanted to fist pump the air. But her tentative expression said she wasn’t so elated. He hated that she’d had doubts about this and still looked wary. His fault because he’d once let her down. But now that she’d agreed he’d do everything to show her it was the right decision.

They’d build a relationship based on respect and common purpose, and attraction, of course.

Gently he kissed her, filling it with all the reverence and tenderness he felt. He cupped her face, thumbs gently brushing the fine skin of her cheeks.

She kissed him back, arms wrapping around him and he felt the last of his tension slide away, even though his heart was hammering fit to burst.

Lifting his mouth he bent his forehead to hers.

‘Thank you, Portia. You honour me with your trust.’ They weren’t mere empty words. He knew how she valued her independence. This decision hadn’t come lightly. ‘You won’t regret it, I promise. I’ll do everything I can to make you happy and to build a good life for us. For ourfamily.’

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