Page 134 of Modern Romance September 2026 Books 1-4

Panic gripped her and, for a moment, refused to let go. She couldn’t placate it. She couldn’t reason with it. She closed her eyes and visualised the Greek alphabet, starting with Omega, Psi, Chi, working backwards for extra focus.

‘When are you leaving?’ she asked softly, when she could trust herself to speak again.

He hesitated in what she knew was an uncharacteristic moment of doubt. ‘I’m not sure.’

Her eyes roamed his face and despite her best effort, she felt a blade of hope burst through her. ‘Oh?’

‘I had intended to be here only for a day or two.’

‘Yes.’

‘I don’t trust them, Astrid.’

Her eyes narrowed. ‘Your family?’

‘You don’t know them well enough to understand, but they are a danger to you.’

‘A danger?’ she repeated, shaking her head to dismiss that. ‘I might not know them as well as you, but I know enough. Otto is—’

‘Not who you think. Nor is Carlotta.’

‘What are you talking about?’

His lips compressed, his eyes lancing hers. She shivered at the cool expression that crossed his features. ‘Would you take my word on this?’

She did trust him, in a way she found utterly strange and scary, all at once. Anja was the only person whose judgement she never questioned, the only person Astrid trusted with her life. Until now? How could she feel such a sense of faith in a man she’d only just met?

‘It would be easier to take your word if I knew a little more about your history.’

‘They would be using you.’

‘And I would be using him.’

‘You don’t care?’

‘I have no expectations of a normal marriage.’

Javier’s finger dropped from her chin, to one of her nipples. He began to draw concentric circles around it, so her stomach pulled as though an invisible string were being tugged at. ‘Are you seriously telling me you are still contemplating marriage to my brother?’

No. In her heart of hearts, she’d dismissed the idea almost as soon as Javier had warned her off the first time. But she’d certainly known, for a fact, that she couldn’t marry Otto once she and Javier had slept together. But to admit as much to Javier was to admit more than she was comfortable with. It might make it seem as though she wanted more from him and from this relationship. It might, in short, open her to hurt and Astrid avoided that like the plague.

‘I think we shouldn’t have this conversation.’

His fingers moved to her nipple and squeezed it sharply, so her hips bucked. His eyes narrowed with knowing certainty even as his hand crept lower, over her flat stomach.

‘Do you like sleeping with me, Astrid?’

She sucked her lower lip between her teeth to stop herself from admitting how much she liked and craved it. How much she craved him. He moved his hand between her legs then, his fingers brushing her sex, so she couldn’t help but cry out.

‘I’ll take that as a yes.’

She groaned softly.

‘I will not sleep with you again if you intend to marry my brother.’

Her stomach twisted. She wanted to cry out. ‘You’re leaving anyway,’ she pointed out. In the back of her mind, she couldn’t help but wonder why she was being so stubborn. Why not just tell him the truth? That the idea of sleeping with two brothers made her insides twist and not in a good way.

‘What if I were to stay for the holidays?’