Page 30 of Modern Romance June 2025 5-8

She sucked in a careful breath. Maybe even a loving one.

‘Well, for example, I’d like to know what the issue is with you and Alejandro,’ she offered. Surely understanding his sibling relationships would give her some clue to his thoughts, his feelings.

‘There is no issue with Alejandro,’ he said, the fierce frown returning—but she could see she had hit a nerve, because the muscle in his cheek was twitching. ‘He is my brother and I love him, even though he goes out of his way to provoke me,’ he added, apparently unaware he was contradicting himself.

‘And Ana?’ she soldiered on. ‘I know you want me to be a good role model for her. But it’s your attention she really wants. Maybe if you spent more time with her…?’

His gaze flattened. ‘I have spent time with Ana every day this summer.’

For ten minutes, during which time, according to Ana, he’d mostly lectured his sister.

She could also recall the way he’d spoken to Alejandro at the party. Had he even realised he had insulted his brother? That he might even have hurt his feelings?

She sighed. There were so many things she wanted to be able to discuss with him about his siblings, about why he had such a fractious relationship with both of them. Was what Ana told her true? That her resemblance to their mother was the reason Santiago avoided her?

But she didn’t want to press the point.Now. All she really needed at the moment was a commitment that nothing would be out of bounds. Because she knew she would never be able to live life the way he did—denying her emotions and keeping them under strict control. Or keeping secrets. It just wasn’t who she was, or rather who she wanted to be. Because one of the most compelling emotions she had dragged up from her past was the yearning for closeness and connection, which she had become more and more sure in the past weeks she must once have been denied.

‘But you don’t mind talking about you and your family, about your feelings…’ She struggled to find the right words, so he wouldn’t slam down those barriers again.

All she needed was a chance. Something to work with, so that their marriage had the potential to be more than just sex, and convenience, and an astute business arrangement for him, and security and safety for her.Eventually. ‘Stuff other than, you know…’ the blush exploded in her cheeks ‘…orgasms.’

He let out a husky laugh. ‘I suppose this is okay.’ He sighed. ‘If you really wish to talk about boring things.’

‘It’s not boring to me,’ she said, knowing how much she longed to know everything about this enigmatic and endlessly fascinating man.

‘I will agree to this,’ he said as he curled his fingers around her neck and tugged her towards him. ‘Although I must warn you, Cerys. Where you are concerned, I find orgasms the most interesting topic of conversation.’

She laughed, feeling euphoric because she had received the concession she wanted—and she doubted Santiago gave many concessions. ‘I like that topic of conversation too,’ she agreed, her breathing accelerating again.

He was looking at her as if he wanted to devour her in one quick bite—which was so…intoxicating.

‘So, we will be married?’ he demanded.

‘Sí,’ she whispered.

Marriage to Santiago De Montoya Lopez was going to be a rollercoaster ride—and, she suspected, a battle of wills for the ages. But what was life if not a rollercoaster ride? One that you either chose to climb aboard or were thrown off by fate. Her certainty that life could be short, and that you had to grab what you could with both hands rather than risk having nothing at all, was so vivid her heart jumped into her throat.

‘Bueno,’ he said, then grasped her waist to lift her onto his desk. Dipping his head, he went to work unbuttoning her shorts and dragging them off with her panties.

‘Santiago!’ she gasped, naked from the waist down in seconds, her heartbeat now pumping furiously between her thighs too. ‘We can’t do ithere,’ she said, aiming for shocked but getting exhilarated instead as he freed the huge erection from his trousers and produced a condom.

His gaze met hers, the erotic intention unmistakable as he rolled on the protection with ruthless efficiency. ‘We can do it anywhere we wish, Cerys. We are engaged.’

He drew his finger through her slick folds, stroked the yearning bundle of nerves with his thumb, making her buck against his hold.

She cried out, the dart of pleasure so strong it nearly undid her.

‘I can feel how much you need me, Cerys,’ he said, the awe in his voice making the hope swell.

When had she ever felt so wanted, by anyone? Perhaps it was just sex, but still it felt immense, important.

He cupped her bottom, dragged her to the edge of the desk to position the huge erection at her entrance. She shuddered and flinched, gripping his shoulders as she braced herself for the heavy thrust which she wanted and needed so desperately.

Instead of impaling her again, though, he gathered her chin and lifted her gaze to his.

‘Can you take me like this, Cerys? You are not too sore?’

That he was determined not to hurt her, when she could see the hunger in his face, made hope swell into her throat.

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