Page 32 of Modern Romance Collection March 2025 (1-4)

“Well, as long as you’d enjoy it. You know, you don’t have to like a person to have sex with them. Good sex, at that.”

She lifted her chin and immediately shot back. “I’d hardly share my body for the first time with someone I hate.” Then something in her expression shuttered.

She hadn’t meant to let that slip.

First time.

She whirled away from him, marched from the dining room to the kitchen, the plates rattling against each other as she moved.

Maybe he should have let that be that, but… She was so self-possessed. So beautiful. He couldn’t fathom that she would… Why wouldn’t she haveshared her bodybefore?

He followed her into the kitchen. “Why have you been hiding?”

“Hiding?” She made a scoffing sound as she set the stack of dishes into the sink. “I have no interest in putting up with a man simply because he might, and I feelmightis the operative word here, offer a bit of physical pleasure. I have had much more important things on my plate. Sex is for people with lots of time and freedom from consequences.”

It was meant to be a dig at him, but it didn’t bother him that she might consider him part of that. “Indeed, indeed. But see, you have already decided to put up with me for other reasons, so why not get pleasure out of the deal?”

She opened her mouth, but no sharp rejoinder came out of it. He watched as she scrambled for one.

And came up empty.

The want was like a drug now. A potent, yearning, tangling thing deep inside. All the more irresistible because he sawsomethingin her reaction.

Oh, he was under no illusions she would everlikehim, but that didn’t mean the elemental chemistry that sparked between them couldn’t be explored. And he was becoming more and more convincedshewanted to explore it, if she could ever get past her own stubborn nature.

“You know, Lynna,” he said, moving slowly closer. Watching as her breathing got more shallow, but she did not retreat. She did not hold him off. She watched him with an expression full of curiosity warring with a wariness. “I could make you feel things you’ve never imagined.”

She made another scoffing sound, but she did not rebut the statement. Didn’t push him away.

“With a touch, a taste. You have no idea what I could show you. You only have to say the word.”

She let out a shaky breath, but her gaze was steady on his when she responded. “Don’t hold your breath.”

He smiled at her. Stayed in this space just a whisper away from her while seconds ticked on. While he watched the effect of his proximity wash over her. While he felt his own body tighten, yearn.

It was a dance. Or maybefencing matchwas more appropriate. Lunge, parry, retreat. Build up to the final moment of surrender.

Shewouldsurrender.

“Enjoy washing dishes,omorfiá mou,” he offered on a sultry murmur. Then turned and walked away. More than pleased at the little outraged sound she made at his retreat.

* * *

She washed the dishes. Cleaned the kitchen and dining room from top to bottom even though the staff tried to help, but she shooed them away. She worked herself into a state of exhaustion, or tried.

But even after she’d showered and crawled into bed, late into the night, she could not stop thinking about those words.

You know, you don’t have to like a person to have sex with them. Good sex, at that.

It was terrible, though better than thinking about the sharp lance of pain she’d felt at Henry bringing up her father. The man he’d been.Before.

She didn’t want to think aboutbeforeConstantine had betrayed her father any more than she wanted to hear Athan’s words echoing in her mind, feeling like a caress against her skin.

In hermind, she knew she had no desire to encounteranyof what Athan described. Not withhim. The confections she made for herself were all the physical pleasuresheneeded. Always had been, always would be.

Her body seemed to be on a different planet of understanding. One that kept reminding her she didn’t have tolikehim to have sex with him. Hewasher husband. And what was this if not the opportunity she told herself she’d never have?

A period of time where her responsibilities were minimal. A sexual encounter with him required no emotional investment. No potential for conflict or complication, because they didn’t like each other and they would divorce after they took AC back. After Rhys was instated.

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