Page 90 of Modern Romance September 2026 Books 1-4

He leaned forward suddenly, as if her expression had given her away, his gaze intense. ‘Were you a virgin, Wren?’

‘What kind of question is that?’ she protested, the heat in her cheeks deepening.

‘You were, weren’t you?’

What could she say? There was only the truth and protesting yet again would be too much protesting. ‘Yes,’ she said finally. ‘I was.’

A flame ignited in his eyes. ‘That was a terrible first time, in that case. Why don’t you come over here and I’ll show you how it can be better?’

‘You already did that in the garden.’

‘Would you like a reminder?’

‘Isandro,’ she said a little desperately, because the look in his inky gaze was making her breathless. ‘That’s not why we’re here.’

‘Isn’t it? I think some part of you wants it to be.’

How could she deny that? When he was sitting there, looking like her every fantasy come to life, with that heat in his eyes. The king who wanted her so badly, he’d broken every rule he had to have her.

He might not love you, but he certainly wants you.

That was true, but it wasn’t enough. Then again, how else could she prove to him that what she felt for him wasn’t simply sexual obsession? That sex was part of it, but not the whole? Only by taking control of this. Only by showing him that sex with someone who loved you was different.

So she stared back at him for a long moment, then said, ‘We do this my way.’

Anticipation gleamed in his eyes. ‘Your way, hmmm? Very well. Tell me what you want.’

Heat had begun to rise inside her, but not only that, the love she had for him rose too, aching behind her breastbone. He was staring at her so intently it was as if he was afraid she might disappear.

That settled something inside her. Because she wasn’t going to disappear. Her chance of escape had vanished the moment he’d pulled her off the plane, and now she couldn’t leave even if she’d wanted to. Even if she hadn’t been pregnant, even if they hadn’t had sex on his desk, she wouldn’t leave. She couldn’t. She never would.

Wren slowly pushed herself out of her chair and took a step over to where he sat, stopping in front of his armchair. He didn’t take his gaze from hers and that bolstered her, overcoming the ball of nerves that sat in her gut.

Going slowly, she pulled her dress up and over her head and off, dropping it on the floor, standing there only in her underwear.

His eyes widened, the expression on his face becoming taut. ‘Take the rest off,’ he growled.

The rough sound of his voice thrilled her, she couldn’t lie. ‘Be patient.’ She reached around to unclip her bra and let it fall, then pushed down her knickers, stepping out of them so she was finally naked in front of him.

He murmured something harsh under his breath, then slid from his chair, down on his knees in front of her. His hands reached up the backs of her calves and higher, behind her thighs till he was cupping her rear, squeezing gently. His hands were hot, scorching every inch of skin they encountered, but the look in his eyes was hotter as he gazed up at her, and for a second she allowed herself to savour this. A king on his knees before her.

‘No,’ she said huskily, pulling away his hands even though it took every ounce of will she possessed to do so. ‘Sit down.’

He leaned in, breathing softly as he nuzzled the curls between her thighs, making her gasp. ‘Little bird…don’t tell me no.’

‘I’m not,’ she said. ‘I’m saying I want this my way, remember?’

He didn’t move for a moment, then finally he released her, shifting back to the chair and sitting down in it. There was demand in his eyes now, pure and hot, and fierce. She’d pushed him about as far as he was willing to be pushed, she could sense it.

Luckily though, she had no plans to deny him, not now. Only to show him what more they could have.

Once he was seated, she moved over to the chair and then, with as much grace as she could, she sat herself in his lap, her knees spread wide on either side of his hips, her hands gripping the sides of the armchair. They were at eye level now, his beautiful face only inches away, and as she settled herself, she could feel the hard ridge of his cock pressing against her, making it very clear just how much he was enjoying this.

She looked into his dark blue eyes, holding his gaze as she reached for his hands, then placed them very deliberately on her breasts. She shuddered at the feel of his fingers on her bare skin, and she let him see what his touch did to her. ‘I wanted you for years,’ she murmured, the truth spilling out of her. ‘I dreamt of you. I fantasised about you. I couldn’t stop myself.’ A sigh escaped her as he squeezed her breasts gently, his thumbs rubbing and circling each hard nipple. ‘I never wanted anyone else, and I never will.’

He didn’t look away as his hands stroked down her sides, tracing over her stomach and then her thighs. ‘That sounds like sexual obsession to me.’ His voice had roughened as he slid one hand between her shoulder blades, easing her forward. ‘You might feel differently in a few years.’ He bent, kissing her throat, tasting her pulse, then moving down until his tongue traced circles around one nipple, before he took it into his mouth.

Pleasure spread out inside her, wild and raw, and she tipped her head back, arching into him, her fingers pushing into his hair. ‘No,’ she breathed. ‘No, I won’t.’