Page 40 of Modern Romance December 2025 5-8

“They think you’re like Pia,” he said, brow clearing. “They don’t know that the last thing you would ever want is that kind of power over anyone. The simplest things in life are most important to you.”

Her eyes widened, shimmering with a wild energy. Undeterred by his dark mood, she kept moving toward him. Bare shoulders stiff, the end of her braid dancing with her movements, eyes drinking him in. When she reached him, the scent of her soap and skin replaced the oily anger in his throat instantly. Releasing him from the coil of frustration and fury.

“Exactly,” she said. “But it will take them time to see that. You can’t just demand that they respect me, Renzo.”

“If I can pay their kids’ private school fees and support their privileged lives, then I can demand that, yes.” He shook his head. “Plus, you’re the mother of my child. That should automatically get you their respect.” He sounded like a grumpy, arrogant, ruthless asshole like she’d called him a long time ago.

She reached him, her folded arms grazing his. “Leave it be, Renzo. At least for tonight.”

His jacket slipped and fell to the floor with a silent hiss, and his breath…suspended in his throat.

Her brown eyes held his, that crystal-clear clarity he found maddeningly arousing simmering there. She said, “I was hoping you’d stay with me tonight.”

“I won’t be good company,cara,” he said, his blood heating at her nearness. “I can’t be…what you need tonight.”

Leaning closer, she rested her chin on his folded arms and looked up at him. “What if we don’t have to talk?”

Renzo’s breath left him in a shuddering exhale. He snuck his fingers under her hair, circled the fragile arc of her nape and pulled her closer. That she came without resisting, giving him her weight, made every muscle in him bunch with need. The lush curves of her breasts pressed against his chest, and he groaned.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea, Mimi.”

She pouted, dragging his gaze to her lips. “You know, you can just say you don’t want to have sex with me. I can take it.”

His hand slipped down her back to her waist, and he pulled her roughly towards him. She was tall enough that his erection dragged against her belly. He felt his hips instinctually buck against the cushiony softness of her belly, seeking more.

A breathy gasp fell from her lips, her fingers locking around his neck. She pushed into his body with an eager, open abandon that made renewed heat punch through him.Cristo, she was going to bring him to his knees… “My control is thin tonight.”

The tip of her tongue swiped over her lower lip, making it glisten. “You’re distressed,” she said, her gaze searching his. “About more than just their bad behavior.”

“Sì.” He scoffed. “Althoughdistressedis the wrong word.”

“Right,” she said, opening her mouth and then closing it.

Renzo watched, fascinated by everything she did. Slowly, her shoulders straightened. “These last two months, you’ve been so good to me. And as your partner, I want to do something for you today. I mean, I’m cleared for everything.”

“Cleared for what?” he said, doubts pricking at his throat like thorns.Cristo, what was wrong with him tonight?

Her throat rippled with her swallow. “Rough sex might still not be the greatest idea, but…” She opened her glistening lips in an O and made a popping sound. “I haven’t gone down on a man before, but I’ve always been a fast learner. If you don’t mind walking me through it.”

If the world had turned upside down at that moment, Renzo would have been less shocked. In one swooping movement, he lifted her and perched her on top of the glass table. Then he buried his face in her neck, inhaling her scent deep into his lungs.

Emotion he didn’t understand overwhelmed him.

It was both comical and touching how she wanted to soothe him, to give him an escape from reality. No one, not even his mother, had ever wondered if he needed respite and relief from all the burdens they placed on him.

Cupping her shoulders, he pulled back and considered her. Then, slowly he undid her braid, until the soft tendrils kissed her cheeks, making her look even more innocent than usual. “You thank me one moment and insult me in the next,bella. When did I give you the impression that I expect sexual favors for being a decent man?”

“You’re more than a decent man, Renzo,” she said, pushing a lock of hair back from his forehead. He didn’t miss the possessiveness in the gesture. “Also, wanting to do something good for you after everything you did for me…isn’t that how we build this relationship? Beyond just loving Luca?”

Her hands stayed on him all the while, andthatdefinitely soothed his raw edges. Maybe their relationship was transactional in nature at the fundamental level, but this way, they had the right expectations of each other. Maybe this was the only way their relationship could thrive and grow.

Still, it pricked him that her desire came from something so…polite and decent at the source. He wanted her as mindless with desire as he was for her.

Shifting closer to her, he spread his hands on her silky-smooth thighs. Her eyes grew wide and molten as he nudged her knees apart.

Bracing herself on her palms by her sides, she bowed her long neck then arched up to look at him. “Renzo?”

“When I said my control was thin, I didn’t mean I would get rough with you physically,bella. I would never hurt you, Mimi.”