Page 203 of Modern Romance June 2025 5-8

She moistened her lips, not sure how to read his mood. ‘I think you’ve helped me come out of myself. Not just with the lovely clothes you bought me but…other things too…’

He lifted her chin with the tip of his finger, locking his gaze on hers. ‘What other things?’ His voice was a low, deep burr of sound that sent tingles down her spine.

Addie disguised a swallow. ‘Giving me compliments and…other things.’

His gaze drifted to her mouth, lingering there for a pulsing moment before coming back to mesh with her gaze. ‘It was just a kiss,cara.’ His thumb idly stroked her chin sending scorching heat straight to her core. His touch was electrifying, mesmerising, tantalising and she didn’t know how to resist it. She didn’t want to resist it. She ached for him and wondered if he felt the same. She found herself leaning into his caress, wanting more, needing more.

‘Was it?’ Her voice was not much more than a whisper.

He stroked his thumb across the curve of her cheek, his eyes still locked on hers. ‘I think it would be dangerous to take things any further than we already have.’

Addie frowned. ‘Dangerous? How so?’

He gave a wry smile and tilted her face upwards, his mouth only inches from hers. ‘I think you know why.’

‘I’m not going to fall in love with you from just a kiss or two.’

‘But we both want more than that, don’t we,sì?’ He bent his head a little lower and pressed his lips to hers, igniting a spark of passion she couldn’t control if she tried. It was a combustible reaction of male flesh on female flesh, hot, searing, irresistible. His tongue slipped between her lips and danced with hers in an erotic tangle that triggered molten heat in her core. Her lower body was on fire, aflame with need that begged to be assuaged. His kiss deepened even further, a low, deep groan sounding at the back of his throat, and he grasped her closer to the pounding heat of his body, leaving her in no doubt of his need of her. It thrilled her to feel the potent rise of his male arousal, the raw evidence of his lust exciting her beyond measure.

‘You want me?’ Addie said, against his lips.

Vic kissed the side of her mouth, his dark stubble tickling her smooth skin. ‘I told myself this wasn’t going to happen. It complicates things too much.’

‘It’s only complicated if we allow to be,’ Addie said, leaning into his hard frame, relishing the strength of his arms around her.

‘We can’t allow any feelings to get in the way. If we do this, it’s casual, no strings. That’s the only reason I’d agree to it.’

‘I’m not going to fall in love with you, Vic,’ Addie said with far more confidence than she felt. Her crush had gone from seven to eight, who knew what it would go to if he made love to her? It was a risk she was more than prepared to take. If she didn’t make love with him, she might never find anyone else she felt comfortable enough with to do the deed. Kissing him had shown her how wonderful he made her feel, how respectful and gentle he was with her. Why wouldn’t she want him to be her first lover? He was the perfect candidate—the only candidate she wanted to give herself to.

Vic held her from him, his hands on her upper arms in a gentle hold. ‘I think we should take things slowly. We’ll have dinner and then see after that if we both still want to do this.’

How could he think of food at a time like this? All she could think of was the hunger growling in her body. But she realised he was giving her space and time to change her mind and she couldn’t help loving him for it.Loving him?The thought slipped into her mind like a flashing light. Love? She had a crush on him, that’s all. A silly little infatuation because she was so limited in her experience with dating men. How could she have fallen in love with him? Or was she just grateful for the attention he had given her, the compliments and kisses and deep conversations that had meant so much to her?

They sat down to the dinner Lucia had left for them a few minutes later. Addie tried to focus on the delicious beef cheek ragout, but her appetite was for Vic and Vic alone. She managed a few mouthfuls, watching him from time to time, wondering if he was feeling the same level of anticipation she was feeling at what might happen after dinner.

‘You’re not hungry?’ Vic said at one point, fork halfway to his mouth.

Addie put her own knife and fork down. ‘I’m worried you’re going to change your mind about…us…you know…getting it on.’ She cringed at how gauche she sounded.

Vic put his fork down and reached for one of her hands, holding it in the gentle grasp of his warm fingers, his dark brown gaze meshed with hers. ‘I should change my mind. I shouldn’t be even thinking about making love to you, but I’ve thought of little else since I kissed you. But I don’t want to pressure you in any way. It’s your choice. It’s a far bigger step for you to take than it is for me.’

Addie twisted her lips in a rueful smile. ‘I guess I’m just another casual lover to you.’

His brows moved closer together over his eyes and he gave her hand a firm squeeze or reassurance. ‘No, you could never be that. But I will always be your first lover. That’s a big deal, especially since you’re an adult who has waited for so long to get to this point.’

Addie looked at their joined hands, imagining their joined bodies in intimacy. A hot dart of longing shot through her at the thought of his limbs entwined with hers, his hard male body possessing hers. Her body was already secretly preparing itself, the silky dew of desire between her legs, the rush of blood and the swelling of her feminine flesh over which she had no control. She slowly brought her gaze back up to his. ‘I want you to be my first lover. I don’t want to do this with a stranger or someone I don’t know and trust.’

‘But will you be able to keep your feelings out of it?’ He was still frowning in concern.

‘I can’t guarantee that any more than you can,’ Addie said. ‘No one can guarantee they won’t be at risk of feeling more than they expected. People get blindsided by feelings all the time.’

His frown disappeared and his smile was confident and cynical. ‘Spoken like a true romantic. But I disagree. I decided a long time ago to never fall in love.’

‘It doesn’t mean it won’t happen. It’s not a mind over matter issue.’

‘We’ll have to agree to disagree.’ He gave her hand another little squeeze and then released his hold and leaned back in his chair. ‘Why don’t you check on Katerina while I clear up here? I’ll meet you upstairs in a few minutes.’

Addie placed her napkin on the table with a hand that wasn’t quite steady. ‘Erm…where will we meet? Your room or mine?’

---