Page 34 of Modern Romance December 2025 1-4

Her family brought out the worst in her. Draco brought out the best, and if she only had him for these few short weeks then she would make the most of those short weeks, and she would love him with everything she had. But never tell him. That would be the worst thing she could do.

She had a feeling that seeing his pity for her love might just kill her.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

WAS HE IMAGININGthings or was Athena doing the unthinkable and actually working?

Curiosity…and the compulsion to be close enough to breathe her perfume in…had Draco crossing the office floor to her desk. Though she kept her head down, he knew from the slight shift in her body language that she was aware of his every step towards her.

She lifted her gaze and fixed him with an imperious stare that was even more effective with the gold horn-rimmed glasses she was wearing and which she absolutely did not need. ‘Can I help you?’

Arousal twinged strongly, a state of affairs that seemed to be getting worse rather than better. He’d assumed that after another night of marathon lovemaking he might be a little less like a horny dog, but no. That Athena was wearing a pink frilly blouse, grey waistcoat and tie, and a grey skirt that, whilst perfectly respectable in length—for Athena—still showed off the glorious length of her legs didn’t help. For some unfathomable reason, it was easier to concentrate when he could see the colour of her underwear than when it was left to his imagination, and this was despite him knowing perfectly well that she was wearing purple lace. It was also easier to concentrate when she wore her hair loose than tied in a severe bun with a pink ribbon, as she wore it today. All he could imagine was pulling that ribbon out and watching her hair tumble down.

Propping himself on the edge of her desk next to the ream of paper she was working through, he murmured, ‘Nothing that wouldn’t get me arrested for indecency.’

She gave an extremely prim blink. ‘Excuse me?’

‘I said I’m just checking in to see what you’re doing.’

‘I thought that’s what you said. As you can see, I’m still going through all the email addresses on this printout and cross-matching them with the unsubscribed names on the database. It’s very riveting and, I’m sure, extremely necessary and worthwhile.’

He wanted to yank at that tie and pull her to him. ‘If you’re bored, I can think of something to pass the time.’

Her expression was as severe as her bun. ‘And what would that be?’

She was driving him insane. This was their fourth full day in California, their fourth day as lovers, and his desire for her was accelerating rather than settling.

Their first day in the office had been unsettling. He’d never had an affair with any of his staff before, let alone with someone as unpredictable as Athena, but that first day she’d clearly made a concerted effort to behave entirely normally around him. Only when they were alone and their eyes met across the office floor did she allow any of her inner feelings to show. Just a look but it was enough to fill his chest and shoot his concentration. Their second day…those looks had increased. Whenever she’d put a cup of coffee on his desk, she’d skimmed her fingers over his hand before sashaying back to her desk. He’d come within an inch of pulling her onto his lap.

The third day had been worse.

Today, their fourth day, he’d made the mistake of watching her dress before they’d left for the office. It had been a reverse striptease that had turned him on so much he was still suffering the effects of the arousal she’d induced. Athena had proven herself a very willing, enthusiastic student in the art of sex. Very willing. Very enthusiastic.

And now he, the man who’d spent every day of his working life with one hundred per cent focus, was struggling to find even ten per cent focus on anything but Athena.

He leaned forward and breathed in her perfume, fisting his hands to stop himself from reaching for her tie. ‘Nothing that wouldn’t get me slapped with a sexual harassment lawsuit.’

Her eyes darkened, but even as colour stained her cheeks, she lifted her chin. ‘Then I suggest you return to your desk before you do or say something that forces me to sue you for more money than I could spend in a lifetime.’

He gave a low growl. ‘I’m starting to think the financial hit would be worth it.’

There was a knock on the door, immediately followed by Grace walking into the office…and stopping short when she saw Draco sitting on Athena’s desk. ‘Am I interrupting something?’

‘Not at all,’ he denied smoothly, ignoring Athena’s flaming cheeks. ‘Athena was just complaining about boredom so I’ve decided it’s time to give my ears a rest and give her something she can get her teeth into. The agenda for next month’s AGM—print off the English translation and give it to her to proofread.’

He didn’t know which woman looked the most gobsmacked.

‘It turns out our airhead is fluent in English,’ he explained as he strode back to his desk, ‘so let’s make use of her talents while we’ve still got her.’ He took his seat. ‘What did you want me for?’

If Grace was suspicious, she hid it well. ‘Diego’s flight’s been delayed so I’ve rearranged your lunch for dinner.’ Diego Guardiola was the Spanish owner of a social media site fighting to join the ranks of the big American-led behemoths in the social media world and wanted to use the system Draco’s company had been developing that made age verification over ninety-nine per cent foolproof.

He cursed inwardly but kept his features even. ‘You’ve booked Delevingnes?’

‘Provisionally, yes. He’s brought his PA with him and wants her to join you. Do you want me to come, too, to even the numbers?’

‘Probably best. Include a place for Athena too,’ he added casually. ‘It will do her good to see something of the area, other than my villa and this office.’

‘I’ve been to California loads of times,’ she piped up from the other side of the room.