Page 16 of Modern Romance March 2025 (5-8)

Sighing, she had leaned into his hand, grabbed it between hers, rolled over and fallen back asleep. And she knew he had stayed there, at her back, until she’d released his hand, that he’d held her when she’d cried in her sleep.

Her face flamed now, even as the cool breeze licked her skin. She needed to stop acting so soppy around him. Just because he had cared for her this afternoon, acted as if she were truly his cherished, precious, pregnant wife didn’t mean it was real.

A soft cashmere shawl landed on her shoulders, gently enough not to spook her.

She stilled, fighting the childish urge to throw it back in his face. She couldn’t tire herself, and her willpower, by engaging in silly fights with him. She had to choose her battles wisely.

“Thank you,” she whispered, casting him a sidelong glance. And then her gaze got stuck there, on his profile, as it always did.

In the moonlight, his still-wet hair gleamed like it was made of onyx, a little gray peeking through at the temples. A dark olive green sweater hugged his broad chest, trying and failing to bring him to some earthly, casual plane. His lower lip was viciously caught in his teeth. He had a habit of chewing on his lip when he was deep in thought.

The memory of threatening to kiss that stern mouth every time he went off into some deep thought washed through her, bringing soft heat to her limbs.

God, how was she going to get through the next few months when he was a constant temptation? She’d already learned that some women—of course she had to be one of them—felt extra horny and sexual during their pregnancy.

Just her luck that he would discover that and use it as another carrot stick to control her. Although, she would prefer the other stick he had on him.

An unsanctioned giggle burst forth from her lips at the naughty thought and she stumbled. Instantly, his hand came to her elbow and stilled. As if knowing that she wouldn’t welcome a deeper touch.

“I’m glad to hear you laugh,bella. Care to share what brought it on?”

“Nope,” she said, popping theplike an annoying teenager.

She felt his sigh before she heard it. Tension thrummed through him, even if he did his best not to betray it. “Is the exhaustion from the afternoon gone, then?”

“Yes. The nap did a lot of good. As did the juice bar and the juice specialist with fifteen different choices on the menu. Kind of overkill for one person, don’t you think?”

“It’s more convenience than anything else. I would prefer to never see you faint like that again in the near future. Or ever again.”

“Yeah, sure. I’ll do my best to keep your peace of mind intact.”

“Nyra, I…”

“We didn’t finish our discussion from this afternoon.”

“Your twin will get every possible care given to her. She’s landed in Switzerland and checked into the clinic. They will send us an update every few days. I’ve told them to add your email to the list.”

Instantly, her throat filled up. When she’d begged Bruno to connect her to her twin, Nadia had come on the line but refused to talk. Only her sobs had been audible, and Nyra had conducted the conversation one-sided, telling her that she loved her, that she’d get over this little setback and that she was dying to hug her.

“Thank you for arranging that,” Nyra said, clearing her throat. “That’s not what I meant though. I had no doubt that you’d take care of all that once you gave your word.”

“Such trust in me, Nyra?”

She laughed at his neat little maneuver. “Arranging all this for my sister probably took you one click of your clever fingers. You have the resources, the capability and now the interest in arranging it. This is nothing to you.”

“And yet you didn’t think of coming to me for help,” he pointed out, and this time, Nyra did fall into the trap and wriggled.

In nine months of their marriage, she’d discovered that he wasn’t only magnetic and sexy as fuck, but kind and generous beneath that power humming on the surface. But she couldn’t trust him. She hadn’t been able to trust her own parents to keep her safe.

“When we first met, you wouldn’t have cast me a second glance if I opened my considerable, media-icky baggage. The divide between an exotic dancer and a banker was already wide enough.”

“You’re projecting your fears onto me,” he said, sounding angry.

She sighed. “We’ll never know how you might have reacted. Ever since my father’s embezzlement was discovered and he was arrested, we lost so many friends. And you…you’re a pillar of respectability in the banking world. Even after I realized who you were, how bad our association could become for you, I couldn’t stop. I wanted you too much.” The words rushed out of her. It was a slip, yes, but also the truth. “Not for worldly gain or to be seen with a powerful man. I found you attractive and then interesting. It was a double whammy.”

If she assumed that he would tease her for it, or even use it as some kind of upper hand in this battle, she would’ve been proved wrong.

He lifted his chin in acknowledgment, his lip caught between his teeth. Her gaze lingered on his angular profile, honeyed heat drizzling through her. If she were honest with herself now, his ruthless actions hadn’t dimmed his appeal one bit. Which struck her as the height of unfair.

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