Page 15 of Modern Romance June 2025 1-4

He slid his thumb over her skittering pulse as he thought about his upcoming schedule. A trip to Tuloranka, to advise King Kaliman on how best to develop his country’s highly prized lithium resources, thus increasing the national wealth by billions. A big job, yes. A very big job. But not without setbacks. Odysseus frowned. It was a country steeped in somewhat archaic tradition and, as a single man staying at the palace, celibacy would be a necessity, not a choice. So why not make the most of what was available on offer now? Surely he would be crazy not to capitalise on this incredible chemistry with the petite housekeeper who was staring at him with darkened eyes which mirrored his own frustrated thoughts exactly.

‘When’s your next free weekend?’ he asked suddenly, pulling his hand away.

Grace blinked, wondering why he had stopped touching her and thinking it was probably a good thing because her swollen breasts felt as if they were about to burst right out of her bra. Her mouth was dust-dry, and she had to lick her lips before she could frame a coherent answer to his question. ‘Not till the end of the month,’ she croaked.

He shook his head. ‘That won’t work. Can’t you bring it forward?’

‘I can try,’ she said doubtfully. ‘Why?’

‘I thought you might like a trip to Paris.’

‘Paris?’ She stared at him. ‘Are you serious?’

‘I’m not in the habit of saying things I don’t mean,’ he offered drily.

‘Paris!’ She sat up very straight, her heart beating fast. ‘Oh, my God. I’ve always wanted to go there.’

‘You’ve never been?’ He frowned. ‘You do have a passport?’

‘Of course I have a passport, but…’ She hesitated. ‘Why do you want to take me to Paris?’

‘Oh, come on, Grace.’ His voice dipped. ‘Surely you must have a few ideas?’

Refusing to take the erotic bait, she shrugged. ‘Maybe you want to grill me about your grandfather.’

‘I’m not interested in him.’ There was a heartbeat of a pause. ‘I’m interested in you.’

Grace’s sense of disorientation increased because fairy-tale invitations to the most romantic city in the world didn’t happen to someone like her. There must be a million other women he could have taken who would have been way more suitable. ‘But you still haven’t told me,’ she persisted stubbornly. ‘Why me?’

If she hadn’t been so innocent then Odysseus would have dismissed her question as disingenuous. The kind of breathless words women uttered when they were seeking flattery. But shehadbeen innocent.Hisinnocent. And that was significant. The lust which had rocked his body when he had made love to her had been primitive. He’d never experienced anything like it before and he wanted to experience it again. ‘I have never slept with a virgin before,’ he admitted huskily.

A faint shadow crossed her face, as if his anatomical candour had disappointed her, but then she gathered herself together, as if determined to match his bluntness. ‘And is it very…different?’

‘Neh.Very different. It was…incredible.’ He gave a short laugh. ‘If you must know, I’ve been aching for you ever since I woke up this morning. I am aching for you right now. I wish we were alone so I could do something about it. I would like to reach my hand underneath the table and feel how wet you are. I would like to make you come again,’ he continued, his voice dipping into a caress. ‘Does that shock you?’

She looked down at the scarlet fingernail and then up into his face again, her colour still very high, but her amber eyes were bright and challenging. ‘A bit,’ she admitted.

He shrugged. ‘I could dress up my desire for you with flowery language, but I don’t want you to get the wrong idea. I am a straightforward man, Grace, and my needs are equally straightforward. I like sex and, judging by your response last night, you like it too.’ There was a pause. ‘But as a novice, you have much to learn.’ His gaze raked over her flushed face. ‘If you like, I can help with that.’

Her fingertips fluttered to her throat, as if attempting to conceal the rapidly beating pulse, and suddenly he wanted to flicker his tongue over the delicate skin.

‘Is that a boast?’ she husked.

‘I have no need to boast.’

‘You want to whisk me off to Paris and teach me everything you know about sex?’

‘I thinkeverythingwould be too big an ask. And certainly not achievable in a single weekend,’ he murmured, with an unashamed hint of sensual mastery. ‘But I can certainly get you started.’

‘Why, that’s…outrageous,’ she breathed.

‘Mmm. I agree. It is. But so what? What you did last night was pretty outrageous.’ He picked up her palm again, enjoying her corresponding shiver as he curved his fingers over the bare flesh. ‘You strike me as someone who is ripe for adventure. So why not just reach out and embrace another one, while you have the opportunity?’

CHAPTER SIX

Againstthelavishlyappointed backdrop of the hotel suite, Grace found herself fixed in the sapphire spotlight of Odysseus’s gaze.

‘There’s no need to look so frightened,’ he said softly. ‘I won’t bite.’

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