Page 104 of Modern Romance Collection February 2025, 1-4

Faye was still in her clothes, but Primo was looking at her as if he’d never seen her before. His gaze seemed navy in the low lights of the bedroom, and she could see how it dropped over her body, lingering on her breasts, belly, thighs. She could feel it like a physical touch.

‘Why are you looking at me like that?’

Because he didn’t want her any more. Right?

Then he asked, ‘Can I join you?’

Very belatedly, Faye realised that he must be tired—they’d both been up early. She went to scramble off the bed. ‘Of course. Sorry. You take the bed. I can go back out—’

‘Where are you going?’

She was sitting on the side of the bed now, looking at him. ‘To give you some space?’

He shook his head and started to undo his shirt. Faye’s eyes helplessly tracked his fingers as his chest was revealed. Did he think she was going to just stay here and lie next to him?

She stood up—but that only brought her to within an inch of his body.

He put his hands on her arms. ‘Where are you going?’ he asked again.

There was a gleam in his eye that she couldn’t quite fully trust. But she heard herself blurting out, ‘You don’t want me any more.’

Primo’s eyes widened incredulously. ‘Why on earth would you think that?’

She avoided his eyes. ‘I was sick...it wasn’t a pretty sight.’

He caught her chin, made her look at him. ‘Do you have any idea how hard it was not to touch you? Would you want me less ifIwas sick?’

Joy and relief bubbled up inside her, making her a little giddy. ‘Well, I guess it would depend... I mean, if you had those nasty little—’

He cut off her words with his mouth, but she could feel his smile and her insides somersaulted and swooped. All the lectures she’d given herself about redrawing boundaries faded into the background when faced with the fact that Primo still wanted her.

Things escalated quickly. His shirt was off. He’d pulled her top up and she’d lifted her arms to help him remove it. Jeans and trousers were undone and kicked off.

They tumbled onto the bed and Primo drew back for a moment and looked at her, clad in the lace and satin of her underwear.

She said, ‘I’ve never done it on a plane before.’

Primo arched a brow.

Suddenly Faye felt blindingly jealous. ‘You have.’

Primo palmed a breast, pulling down the lace cup to expose the plump flesh, teasing a nipple between two fingers. Faye’s back arched as she tried to hang on to her indignation.

Primo said, ‘I admit it’s not my first time, no. But if it’s any consolation, I can’t even remember the woman. And, as this is your first time, I’ll be very, very gentle.’

Faye forgave him as he lowered his mouth to hers and drugged her with a very explicit kiss, hands moving over her body, removing the scraps of underwear.

They came together in a deliciously slow, sensual dance, as gentle as Primo had promised. Until, of course, neither one of them wantedgentleany more, and the pace of their movements and the glide of their bodies became more urgent and desperate.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, heels digging into his buttocks as he thrust in and out, taking them higher and higher, until the climax broke over them simultaneously, both too desperate for this pinnacle to eke it out.

Primo buried his head in her shoulder, breathing fast. ‘I’m sorry...wanted to make it last...’

Faye felt a surge of tenderness and smiled dreamily. ‘It was perfect. Amazing.’

Primo lifted his head and looked at her. ‘What do you do to me, woman? I don’t know who I am when I’m with you...’

Faye’s gaze moved around his face, as if she wanted to imprint every feature on her mind for ever. She landed on his mouth and traced the shape with her finger. ‘I know the feeling.’

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