Page 210 of Modern Romance September 2026 Books 1-4

‘I still taste you on my tongue, did you know that?’ His gaze dropped to her mouth and it was like being touched by a live wire. ‘Hot, sweet honey.’ His voice turned gravelly. ‘And I want more. So much more.’

The trembling in her limbs became a shudder of longing, rolling down her spine and dropping deep into her feminine core.

‘But you need to tell me what you want.’

He was so close, or had she moved? If she leaned forward they’d touch. It would be easy. She sensed the banked embers of lust would ignite instantly, removing the need for words.

But she wasn’t a coward. Confused, yes. Fearful of the depth of her hunger. But not a coward.

She’d fought this compulsion with everything she had but logic and caution couldn’t vanquish something so primal.

Her voice was thick but firm. ‘I want you.’ The ache in her chest abruptly eased as the words burst free. ‘I want to have sex with you,’ she added, needing to clarify so he didn’t think she’d fallen for him.

Years before she’d loved him desperately. That was a secret she’d never revealed, believing the time would be right to share that when his own feelings had deepened. That time never came.

Ruthlessly, Dido blocked that line of thought. This wasn’t about the past. Or the future. It was about now. This single point in time when she could reach out and have what she’d craved for so long. Surely she could allow herself this?

The way he looked at her turned her mind to mush. And every secret place in her body. And her knees…

He caught her hips as she wobbled. Then they were thigh to groin and the long ridge of his erection furrowed against her belly.

‘Panos!’ It was a gasp of pure need. She couldn’t have stopped it any more than she could have prevented her hands flattening against him and rubbing his chest.

She felt tremors pass through him too and the last trace of anxiety eased. This might be a mistake but they both wanted it. For the first time since they’d met again she felt they were truly equals. All his wealth made no difference when both trembled with want.

It was as if she sloughed off old, too-tight skin. A weight lifted. She even felt her lips curl in a shaky smile as he lifted her clean off the floor and up onto the end of the massive island bench, away from the food.

They were at eye level as he stood between her knees. ‘Tell me again.’

A command or a plea? With his hands on her, his solid body between her thighs and pressed to her chest, she felt the energy coursing through him.

A shaky breath pushed her breasts against his hard chest and even that felt like too much. She shuddered, opening her knees wider as he planted his hands on her bottom and dragged her against his groin.

It had been so long and she needed him so badly. ‘I want you, Panos.’ She opened her eyes and lost herself in the dark chocolate depths of his. ‘I need—’

His mouth slammed into hers and it was like the last time. Instant, all-consuming hunger. His fingers ploughed through her hair, tugging at curls, tilting her head so he could invade her mouth in the most satisfying way.

The pulse between her thighs thundered faster and she wriggled on the cool bench, pressing against his hardness. Was it possible to orgasm from just a kiss?

His hand found her breast and she had her answer. When, not if.

Thrusting her fingers into the short hair at the back of his skull, she tried to meld herself to him. He gathered her in as if he couldn’t stand anything but a complete fusion of their bodies either.

But then he lifted his head, just enough to brush her lips with his words. ‘We need a bed.’

Dido thought she’d die if she had to wait. For three difficult, lonely years she’d longed for this, even as she told herself she hated him. A few minutes longer should make no difference yet she knew an atavistic fear that once separated, even by inches, something would stop this happening.

She lifted surprisingly heavy eyelids to meet his searing stare. Even that notched her arousal higher. ‘We don’t need anything but each other.’

A second passed. Pride abandoned, she was about to plead when he nodded. Yet he slid one arm away. Seeing her pout he gave her a tight smile and held up a tiny package he must’ve grabbed from his pocket. ‘Condom.’

‘You carry a condom around the house?’

The glint in his eyes was devilish as he tore it open. ‘All the time, since you came to stay.’

Later she’d examine her emotions. Annoyance or relief that he was prepared?

‘What is it, Dido? Have you changed your mind?’