Page 163 of Modern Romance June 2025 1-4

‘It’s too far,’ he answered. Judging by that kiss, she was as impatient as he was. Before they could fall into another, the doors opened, letting them out on the ground floor. He took Jasmine’s hand—the thought of not having any contact with her electric skin was too much to bear—and walked them to the hotel reception.

‘Mr D—’

‘I need a suite,’ Emilio said, before the hotel receptionist could give his name away.

‘Yes, sir. Overnight stay or longer?’

‘Overnight is fine.’

Despite the receptionist’s efficiency, it felt like an age while he typed on his keyboard. Especially when Emilio looked into Jasmine’s eyes and found himself leaning towards her. It took all his willpower to tear his gaze away and thank the man behind the desk when he handed over the keycard.

As soon as they were once again ensconced in the lift, Emilio’s resistance ran out. With one arm wrapped around her waist, he pulled her against his body, his entirety pulsing with need.

She kissed him, hard and full, surprising Emilio with her fervency. His back thumped against the golden wall as he pulled her with him, their mouths never parting. Every slide of their lips making them desperate, turning the kiss ever wilder. Her lips were as frantic as his. He felt the scrape of sequins against his palm as he fisted her dress, wishing he could tear it right off her; her hands were digging at his side, his chest just as desperately.

Emilio had been with many women but none quite as tall as Jasmine. In her heels she was only just shorter than him. And he loved it. Loved the fact that every part of his body pressed against her. She would be able to feel his arousal exactly where she would be craving it most. He craved her too. He was utterly lost to this maddening chemistry and only barely heard the ding of the lift.

They moved together down the corridor in a frenetic dance, lips locked. Emilio only managed to pause long enough to swipe the keycard that allowed them entry into the swanky suite. Lights flickered on as they stumbled through the door. It had barely clicked shut before lips and hands were everywhere—pushing, shoving, tearing at each other’s clothes, laying a trail of fabric breadcrumbs leading to a spectacular bedroom. Emilio didn’t take notice of a single detail. All that mattered was the bed.

He picked Jasmine up and laid her down gently on the soft covers. His lips trailed along her jaw, down her neck, over her chest. Taking her nipple into his mouth, he made her back arch in a gasp, but he didn’t linger there, continuing his path of kisses down her body until he caught the band of her panties in his teeth.

‘Emilio,’ she whined.

He wanted to take his time teasing her. Wanted to drive her completely mad. But he would only be doing the same to himself, and he had very little patience left. He didn’t know what it was about this woman, but she affected him like a drug. He ripped away her panties. The sound that escaped her was part-laugh, part-moan as he let the scrap of lace fall to the floor and dropped to his knees.

When he pulled her to the edge of the bed, Jasmine let out a sound of shock.

‘Eyes on me,’ he instructed and, holding her gaze, he lowered his mouth to the heart of her. Licking, sucking, teasing. Tormenting. And relishing every heaved breath, every moan, every nonsensical utterance. Every one of them drove his arousal higher and higher, until he was so hard it was nearly painful. But still he wouldn’t let up, not when she was writhing in pleasure so pure, and he could tell she was getting close. So, he banded his arms over her hips, keeping her still, forcing her to absorb every ounce of pleasure—until she was shattering on his tongue.

And he kept going until she sunk her fingers into his hair, pulling on it. Only then did he climb over her and give her exactly what she wanted: a kiss so wild, so untamed, that it cast every thought from his head. In this moment, sharing with Jasmine her own honeyed taste and feeling her body undulating against his—wantinghis—Emilio was nameless. He had no history and no future. He existed solely in this void where passion was soul-consuming. There was only now.

‘Belleza,’Emilio said lowly. ‘I want you.’

‘I want you too,’ Jasmine replied.

‘But—’

‘But this is just for tonight. No last names.’ It was as though she’d read his mind.

‘No talking about the past or future.’

‘No strings.’

‘Just pleasure.’

‘Now take me, Emilio.’

Jasmine had never quite experienced anything like this. Emilio had given her one of the best releases of her life, but she wanted more. She was insatiable and something told her the moment they were done, she would want more yet again.Emilio made her insatiable.

He’d answered her plea by rolling them both, allowing Jasmine to straddle him, his back against the covers. Now her hips began to move of their own accord. ‘It’s my turn,’ she said, feeling utterly wicked.

Emilio casually folded his arms under his head, but he didn’t fool her—not with the pupils of his coffee-coloured eyes blown wide, his muscles cording from his restraint. She wanted to see that restraint snap. So she peeled his underwear away, watching as his chest rose and fell and his eyelids fluttered closed. She took a moment to admire him in his perfect nudity, to trail a finger between the valley of his abs all the way down, where the muscle arrowed towards his hardness. What an incredible specimen of a man he was. What a perfect partner she had chosen with whom to let loose for the night.

‘You don’t get to close your eyes,’ she said as she grasped his length.

‘Tentatrice.’His voice was hoarse. His breathing sped up as she lowered her head and when she took him in her mouth his groan was guttural. It all made pride swell within Jasmine. She teased him mercilessly until she felt his fingers in her hair pulling her off him.

‘Belleza.’He swallowed thickly. ‘You’re torturing me. I need to have you.’

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