Page 48 of Modern Romance September 2026 Books 5-8

“Fuck.”

I almost ask him to come over then. To make love to me the way he did in Venice.

But fear stills the words on my tongue. He hasn’t said anything yet. And even though my body is tight with desire, there’s still a faint trace of humiliation on my tongue from when he pulled back in the elevator.

Dominic has far more control than I do. Other than pledging fidelity, we’ve never talked about what our intimate life will look like after we say I do.

So instead of potentially ruining the moment, of facing rejection yet again, I slide a finger inside myself and remember what it was like to take Dominic inside me.

“God, Sophaya.”

I savor the gravelly texture of his voice, close my eyes as I imagine him in front of me, pants undone and eyes burning as he strokes himself. My own movements quicken as the pressure builds. I find my release, cry out his name as pleasure shudders through me. His groan follows a moment later.

“Good night, Sophaya.”

“Good night, Dominic.”

I walk into my room and close the doors behind me. I move slowly as I take the record off the player, slip out of my dress and hang it up before moving into the shower. I’m physically sated.

But loneliness haunts my every step as I get ready for bed. With every move he makes, telling me he trusts me and making grand gestures like setting up the development fund, Dominic is drawing me in, pulling me closer even as he keeps me at arm’s length.

I slip under my sheets, turning my head to glance at the wall between his suite and mine. I’m coming dangerously close to falling in love with the father of my child. But he’ll only ever share pieces of himself.

Fatigue drags my eyes down. My last thought, before I drift off to sleep, is that if I am foolish enough to fall for Dominic, there will always be a part of me that’s alone.

Chapter Sixteen

Dominic

The day of my wedding dawns cool and misty. I stand on my balcony, gazing out over the olive tree groves to one side and the deep blue sea to the other. The same place where I stood last night as my future wife gave herself release.

It nearly killed me not going to her. It’s been over three months since I slid inside her wet heat, over three months since her body wrapped around me in the darkness and welcomed me with a wild abandon that seduced me more than any practiced movement could. I told myself I didn’t go to her because I wanted to drag out the suspense, save something special for after we said our vows.

But as I glance toward the slim section of her balcony railing that I can glimpse from mine, I accept that I’m a liar. I didn’t go to her last night because I wanted to so badly. She strips away my control, makes me feel things I’ve never felt for any other woman.

The emotions are tempting, tantalizing. I’ve gotten to know Sophaya on a deeper level, and I like the woman I see. A lot.

But I’ve loved before. I loved my parents, albeit in a twisted, dependent way. I loved my grandmother with every fiber of my being. I realized too late how much I cared for John, never told him how much I cared about him or the impact he made on my life. All of them left me, one way or another. Each departure dug wounds into my heart, leaving behind deep scars that have never fully healed.

Yes, Aiden and Cassian are still in my life. But our relationship is different. We’ve weathered so many storms together, had each other’s backs in the worst of times. There have been days where I thought I would end up arrested or even killed. It was Aiden and Cassian who stepped in to intervene, to help, even when I didn’t want it.

Sophaya and I have grown closer, yes. She’s carrying my child. But the thought of letting my walls down even further, of truly letting her in, isn’t possible.

A knock sounds on my door. I’ve barely turned to look over my shoulder when the door flies open and my brothers stroll in.

“Good morning.” Cassian walks over and claps me on the back. “How are you feeling?”

“As well as can be expected,” I reply dryly.

Aiden walks over. “Things okay between the two of you after last night?”

I nod. “We talked.” Among other things.

Aiden glances at his watch. “Ready to go?”

I look at him then, at Cassian standing next to him. The men who became my brothers, my family.

My gaze slides to the right. To the empty spot next to Cassian. John should be here.