Page 25 of Modern Romance March 2025 (5-8)

Lust punched through him, but this too he kept under check. This time, there was more at stake, more than just themselves. He couldn’t simply seduce her into submission.

Before his self-control shattered at her feet, he pulled away. He shrugged on the other shirt she’d brought him, her heated gaze leaving little pockets of want on his skin.

“I will have a real estate agent send you some links. Just…get a sense of what you like. We can tour some of those places once I’m back.”

“I’m not sure I would know it even if the right place smacked me in the face, Adriano. It’s too big a decision to—”

“Then it’s time you learned, Nyra. Learned to tell me what you want and don’t,” he said, leaning down and kissing her cheek.

The scent of her coiled around him, fisting his cock tight. And for just a second, he felt her leaning in too, her mouth fluttering at the edge of his, her breath a sharp rasping pant.

He pulled away, even if it was the hardest thing he’d ever done.

“It’s more than just you and me now. And this time around, I want no lies, no misunderstandings and no hiding.”

“I can’t promise you any of that.”

He stilled at the door. “I know,cara. But you know me. I’m a very patient man when I want something.”

“And you want this…marriage?”

The hesitation in her tone, the doubt in her words…pained him.

“At any cost,” he said, and then he walked out.

And he wondered, for the millionth time, what it was about her that made a mockery of his usual confidence, his smooth rationality.

Chapter Six

“Youlefthim. Now you return, pregnant with his bambinos, and ruin his life all over again.”

Nyra’s knife and fork clattered to the plate as the words, spoken in a rough Italian accent, whipped her. She looked up from her breakfast in the empty dining room to find Adriano’s childhood nanny, Maria, watching her from the end of the long table, her flinty eyes unflinchingly critical.

Nyra took a sip of her orange juice. Her throat clogged with tears, she nearly choked.

Maria had arrived late last night. When Nyra had seen her get out of the chauffeured car, she’d hurried into her bedroom and locked it. It had been a cowardly thing to do, but she hadn’t been prepared to face the woman who worshipped Adriano and knew him the best.

She should’ve guessed that Adriano would send someone to look after her. Maybe even to keep an eye on her, she thought morosely.

It was Maria he had first introduced her to upon their arrival in Italy, Maria who had blessed their union with fat tears in her eyes. Maria, who hadn’t immediately dismissed her as a toy that had caught his passing fancy. But…Nyra had always felt like Maria could strip off layers of the armor she cloaked herself in and see the lost, lonely girl beneath.

Pushing her chair back, Nyra stood up and kissed the old woman’s cheeks. “It is good to see you, Maria.”

The leathery texture of her skin, the smell of lemons and something else, made her stomach slosh. Not in a bad way. More like the indulgent, unstoppable ache one felt in the presence of someone old and kind. And it was Maria’s no-nonsense advice Nyra needed.

Had Adriano known that she’d needed someone who wouldn’t indulge herorcriticize her?

Maria took a couple of steps back as if to see Nyra better. Joy replaced the scowl as she patted Nyra’s cheek. “You look well, but you’re miserable. You miss him.”

There it was, what she’d feared. Maria seeing through her defenses.

Nyra swallowed, and under the guise of serving breakfast for the old lady, turned away. She poured herself a little coffee and settled down at the table in front of Maria. Even her tongue-lashing was preferable to silence.

“So, why did you come back?” Maria said, picking through the fruit bowl with a sour expression.

“You don’t know what happened between us,” Nyra said, even the little bit of coffee she allowed herself daily not helping. “I would appreciate it if you don’t blame me for everything.”

The older woman cackled. “Of course I blame you for everything. You left. You left my Adriano after making him a vow.”

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