Page 52 of Modern Romance September 2026 Books 5-8

“Make love to me, Dominic.”

His eyes darken. “Here?”

I wrap my arms around his neck, brush my lips across his. “I need you. Now.”

He crushes me to him and kisses me before I can even draw a breath. I gasp, opening my lips to him and moaning when his tongue brushes mine with intimate strokes. He pulls back, smirking at my frustrated moan, and stalks across the room to lock the doors. He makes a lap around the room, closing the curtains until it’s just dark. And then he’s in front of me once more, resuming his sensual assault on my lips.

His hands start to work on the tiny buttons holding the back of my dress together. Every button undone is slow, delicious torture as his fingers brush my bare back.

Finally, the buttons are undone. He lifts his head, his eyes never leaving mine as he eases the straps down over my shoulders, bares my breasts.

“You are so beautiful.”

Almost the same words he said to me at the ceremony. But now, as he lowers his head and captures one nipple in his mouth, there’s a reverence in his voice, a depth of emotion that brings tears to my eyes and hope to my heart.

I trail my fingers through his thick hair, arch into his mouth. Every lick, every kiss, every suck is exquisite, driving me wild as my body grows increasingly desperate.

Finally, he raises his head and places his hands on my waist, lifting me up slightly before setting me on the window seat. He moves between my legs, his fingers tracing trails of fire up and down my bare arms. I grab his lapels, pull him down so I can kiss his neck, lave my tongue over the soft spot at the base of his throat. His growl of pleasure echoes in the library.

“Taste me, Dominic.”

He starts to kiss me again, but I lay a finger across his lips. Shyness threatens to intrude, but I force myself to ask. “Not there.”

His eyes turn molten. “Your wish is my command.”

“Just not my orders?” I tease as he leans down and grips the hem of my dress.

He gives me one last soul-searing kiss before he kneels in front of me. “I’ll honor any order you give me right now.”

And he means it. He’s giving me power, ceding his control. A choice that doesn’t come easily to him and means all the more to me because it’s hard.

His hands slide up my calves. I moan. “I never thought I’d enjoy this so much.”

He stops, his hands tightening on my knees. “What do you mean?”

I blush, my teeth sinking into my lower lip. “Well, this…you, um, kissing me down there…”

“Yes?”

I reach down, brush a stray strand of dark hair out of his face. “You’re the first man to kiss me like that. The only one,” I add softly as my fingers linger on the sharp blade of his cheekbone, the roughness of his beard.

His breathing grows harsh as he watches me. He turns, grabs my wrist and presses a kiss to my palm, gently scraping his teeth over my skin before he resumes his journey. He pushes my skirt up around my hips. I arch up, my own breathing coming in quick gasps as he eases my panties off.

Leaving me completely bare before him.

He kisses the inside of one thigh. Then the other. Brushes his mouth over my mound. Teasing me with fleeting touches and open-mouthed kisses until I want to scream.

Finally, he places his mouth on me. I cry out his name as his tongue strokes me to new heights of pleasure, his hands clamped down on my hips. The climax comes quick, sensation spiraling through me as I shudder in ecstasy.

He stands, reaches for his belt.

My release is still traveling through my veins, but I bat his hand away. “My turn.”

I undo his belt, pull down his zipper, and reach into his pants to wrap my fingers around his hard length. I move my hand in long strokes, simulating the motions he just performed on me as his head drops back on a moan. I lower my mouth, taste him, savor how he grows even harder.

His hands grab onto my shoulders and lifts me up.

“I need you. Now.”