Page 102 of Modern Romance September 2026 Books 5-8

I’m utterly and completely done for.

I lay my head back, and cry out his name, and he goes over with me, spilling himself deep inside of me as he leans in and bites my neck.

I whimper, clinging to him, not wanting to let go.

He looks at me, those fathomless eyes black, hands framing my face. “What have you done to me?”

I bite my lip. “I don’t know.”

“You should go to bed.”

“I don’t want to.”

I wanted to crawl underneath his skin. That was what I wanted. I can’t say that, though, I realize. Because that’s unhinged.

Though I feel a bit unhinged.

“It doesn’t need to be a big deal,” he says.

“It does for me.” I despise the pleading note in my voice.

“Why? I understand that you’re trying to get something from me with sex—”

“I’m not. I was trying to… I was trying to get you to see that we need to give the baby up for adoption. I wanted you to get to know me, I wanted you to understand. I was trying to do that, you’re right. But I’ve never even kissed anyone before. And the reason I said that down at the beach was because I was so overwhelmed by the kiss that I just… I was trying to bring myself back to what I know, which is that this child doesn’t have a chance with the two of us. I thought maybe if I could make you want me, if I could make you care about me in some way, or at least just know and understand the things I’ve been through, that you would agree. That’s all.”

“You…you were a virgin?”

“Yes,” I say.

“That’s not possible,” he says.

“It’s more than possible,” I say. “It’s true. I’ve never been with anybody. Because why would I? I’ve never seen a relationship be anything other than toxic. I’ve never had a person in my life treat me like I matter. I’m better off alone. I’ve been better off alone. That’s just true.”

Also, I’ve been terrified of pregnancy. In the sense of what getting pregnant naturally would mean for me, being trapped, and being the kind of terrible that my parents were.

“Why? Why would you give yourself to me?”

“Because I want you. I can’t explain it. I can’t explain why that was stronger than common sense with you. I don’t even know if I want to explain it. But it happened. I don’t need to be ashamed about it, and I don’t need you to look at me like I’m an alien. I admit that I was trying to manipulate you. But that’s not what this was about. I upset you and…”

“You think that I was upset about you?”

“Yes.”

“I was angry with you, yes. But my… Renzo. He called me to let me know that Vittoria’s pregnant.”

I straighten in his arms, shock making my body go rigid. “Pregnant?”

“Yes. And I have reason to believe that occurred prior to her abduction. He’s using that to keep me at bay. And it will work. Because I do care about my sister. And I do not wish to take the father of her child away from her.”

“And if she wasn’t pregnant…you would kill him?”

He looks at me; those eyes that were so passionate only moments ago are black and cold now. “If I had to. If I thought that he had forced her in any way.”

“You don’t think so?”

He looks away. “No. I don’t trust anyone, as a matter of course. But I know Renzo. And while I can believe that he went back to his father’s empire perhaps for money. One thing I know about his character. He is not one to harm women. I know that much. He would not have forced himself on Vittoria.”

“Maybe she loves him.”