Page 35 of Modern Romance Collection March 2025 (1-4)

It felt like a dare. It felt like a lifeline.Stopfelt like the only choice between this or an oblivion that would take her over, take her under. When she had to be strong and herself.

Who would she be if she lost control? If she let someone else handle everything there was to handle? What tragedies would befall her this time?

“S-s-stop,” she managed.

And he did. Immediately. He pulled his hands back and held them up like surrender. He took a step away from her, and then another. His gaze never left hers, and there was nothing but a grim kind of amusement in his expression.

“You know where to find me when you change your mind,omorfiá mou.”

Some strange part of her wanted to stop him. As he turned and moved out of the pantry. Demand he stay and finish this.

But he walked away. Like it was easy. Like nothing was rioting around in his body like it was in hers.

She hadfelthis erection against her body. Maybe she wasn’t well-versed in the male body, but she knew enough to know that.

Why would he just…walk away?

Because you told him to.

So it was wrong she felt disappointed. It wasridiculousshe felt disappointed. But that was what settled inside of her. Frustrated, thwarted desire. Huge, yawning disappointment.

And the bastard probably knew it.

CHAPTER TEN

Afullthreedays later, and Athan still had not quite recovered. For the most part, Lynna had avoided him, which was satisfying. She only bent her pride like that when somethinghadaffected her, so there was that.

But he could not seem to rid himself of the echoes of that kiss. It kept ringing in him like a bell. And he could not recall a time, even if he went back to his reckless, hormonal teenage days, when one woman had ever affected him on such a level.

It felt like a bad omen of too many losses to come, and yet he could not change course now. She was his wife. And maybe he realized, even if she ended up meaning too much, it would only be his due to lose her, really. Maybe this was all just a grand sacrifice toward allowing her to hurt him the way he’d once hurt her family.

Or he was losing his mind.

Either way, there was no way to go but forward. They were going to a charity ball tonight. To be seen and photographed together. To introduce Lynna to anyone and everyone. To end any questions that Constantine’s tabloid parade had stirred up.

When Athan strode down the stairs, she was already standing by the door waiting for him. He would have glanced at his watch to see what time it was, but he could not take his eyes off her.

She was perhaps the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. She tried to hide it, keep so many things understated in her usual day to day, but in the ball gown, there was no hiding how striking she was.

It was a dazzling sparkle in bronze. It nipped in at the waist, hugged her hips. Her arms were bare, pale and mouthwatering. There was a smattering of freckles on both shoulders, and he nearly missed a step at how badly he itched to taste each one.

He had teased himself with a taste, the most basic feel of her the other night, and it was eating him from the inside out.

Washe even breathing? He felt as if every atom of his being had been frozen into place.

But he forced himself to look away, at the stairs. At his watch, then back at her. And then when he’d gotten himself under control, he smiled at her.

She was scowling at him. “I was told to be ready at seven. It is ten past,” she said, sounding like a scolding schoolteacher.

“It is not my experience a woman is ready to go on time.”

“Then your experience is lacking. I amalwayson time.”

“Yes, I suppose you would be.” He offered his arm.

She eyed it as though it were some kind of trap. Her scowl never changed, especially when she hooked her arm with his and let him lead her outside to the car waiting for them.

The driver held the door open for them and Athan helped her in before skirting the car and getting in on the other side. She was rearranging her skirts, studiouslynotlooking at him. He supposed she had no reason to, but it was interesting to watch her now as they drove, when she had nothing to do.

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