Page 224 of Modern Romance Collection February 2025, 1-4

So she did, and he growled, making her laugh yet again, her body shaking on top of his. ‘Animal,’ she breathed. ‘You’re my favourite kind.’

He was rapidly losing the ability to think, but he paused again, deep inside, tightening his fingers on her hips. ‘I’m your favourite kind of animal?’

‘I like a badger.’ She rocked against him. ‘Move.’

‘What?’ He pretended to look surprised. ‘Me? Move? Move where?’

Another laugh and she bent forward, her hair a golden curtain around them. ‘Make me come, O great god,’ she whispered against his mouth, ‘and I’ll be your slave for ever.’

‘Oh, well, in that case...’ He gripped her harder, moving beneath her, watching the teasing light in her eyes slowly fade, replaced by the burning pleasure that they always experienced with each other.

And even though she was above him, he had the oddest impression that he was the one falling. Falling into her brilliant golden eyes.

‘You haven’t said yes, Maude,’ he whispered.

Her gaze was shadowed russet edged with gold. Darkness and light. Midnight and midsummer. The wild part of her and the joy. She kissed him, giving him a nip. ‘Yes,’ she whispered.

Then everything fell away and there was nothing in the world but the pleasure and the fire that ended it.

CHAPTER TEN

THREEDAYSLATERMaude stood in front of the little mirror in the cottage and stared at herself in the simple, gold silk shift dress. It was cut on the bias, hugging her breasts, hips and little bump, before flowing out into a gold swirl around her ankles. A beautiful dress. Her wedding dress.

She still found it hard to believe that she’d agreed to marry Dominic, especially considering her first thought when he’d asked her was an immediate no. And not because she had strong feelings about marriage itself—her grandparents admittedly hadn’t seemed all that happy in theirs, yet Polly and John clearly were—but because she didn’t want to feel bound to anyone. To be constrained by their rules and their expectations. She’d moved on from that when she’d moved out of her grandparents’ house, but it hadn’t been until she’d come to Darkfell that she’d felt truly free. She didn’t want to give that up, not for anyone.

But Dominic had been adamant that nothing would change between them and she believed him. He hadn’t given her a reason to doubt him since he’d decided to live here so why shouldn’t she?

It had still been a deal for him—he’d made no secret of that—and while she felt an odd pinch of hurt for absolutely no reason, mostly she found that reassuring. No feelings were involved, it was still a business decision, and that she was comfortable with.

Taking his name for the sake of legal protection for her and the baby had even sounded logical, and if it meant they could both carry on as they had, with him in her bed when she wanted it, why shouldn’t she?

It also took some of the pressure off when it came to explaining about the pregnancy. There would be questions, naturally, about how she came to marry such an infamous playboy, but at least she didn’t need to say that her baby was the result of a night spent with a stranger in the forest.

Speaking of which, the others need to know.

Yes, the Your Girl Friday team really did. She’d been cagey on their usual Zoom calls, and while she’d had a few assessing looks, no one had asked her outright what was going on. They respected her need for space, which she appreciated.

She’d tell them later, after the wedding maybe. They’d be unhappy she hadn’t let them know about either the baby or Dominic earlier, but too bad. It was her secret to keep for the time being.

Dominic, however, had insisted that Polly and John be told, and that the announcement should be made with her presence. She’d been reluctant, worrying a little about what the Harrises would think of her pregnancy and then her forthcoming marriage. But they hadn’t been judgemental. In fact, they’d been thrilled, Polly even going so far as to give both her and Dominic a hug.

She hadn’t expected that and it was relieving. It made her wonder why she’d been worried about it at all. Probably leftover anxiety from her grandparents’ judgemental upbringing.

Carefully, she picked up the length of sheer golden silk that was her veil, and put it on her head. She’d chosen the gown and veil from a website the day after she’d agreed to be Dominic’s wife and he’d had them shipped to Darkfell. He’d also asked her what she preferred in terms of a ceremony and, since she had no strong feelings about it, having never thought she’d ever marry, she’d only shrugged. He’d nodded and then asked her if she minded him organising it, which she didn’t. He’d surprise her, he’d said, which could have been a little worrying, but she felt oddly calm about letting him do it. He’d never do anything she wouldn’t want. She felt that in her bones.

Stepping out of the cottage, Maude was surprised to see a lit torch standing in the ground outside the front door, flaring in the sunshine. An arrow on the ground, formed of sticks, pointed in the direction of the forest, and a crown of woven leaves and flowers sat in the grass beside it.

A strange little feeling gripped her tight, though she couldn’t have said what it was, a wave of the strangest warmth. She found herself smiling as she went over to the arrow and picked up the crown. It was competently woven, the leaves fresh and green, the wildflowers bright. It was obviously for her.

Her throat felt tight for some reason and the warmth in her chest expanded. Dominic had done this and he’d put thought into it. He’d considered her, considered what was important to her, what she liked, and he’d made an effort. This marriage might be only a business deal, but he’d made it special.

Is marrying him really such a good idea?

Maude ignored both the thought and the tight feeling in her throat. She’d said she’d marry him and she would, and it wouldn’t change their arrangement. It was for the baby anyway, and the baby was far more important than her own feelings.

She put the crown of leaves and flowers on her head, over the veil, then turned in the direction of the arrow and walked into the forest. There were more torches and arrows, pointing the way, and she soon realised where she was being directed. It made the warmth inside her glow brighter.

She moved deeper into the trees, mindful of her dress, until she came to the little path that led to the forest waterfall and pool, because of course that was where he’d directed her.

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