Page 35 of Modern Romance October 2025 5-8

‘Let them know I had a weak moment? Never. I went to the villa for some time out and reassessed my priorities.’ He smiled at her. ‘I really am fine, Bethan. You don’t need to worry. I promise.’

So he’d created this new foundation for his mother and, Bethan realised, decided to finalise their divorce. Clearly he wanted closure on personal things. Stressful things. Like her too.

‘Did you sleep at all last night?’ she whispered.

His gaze dropped. No, he hadn’t. She suspected he hadn’t slept much the night before either.

She held two fingers on the inside of his wrist. ‘Your pulseisfast.’

‘That’s not from panic.’ Colour returned to his cheeks. ‘I really am okay. I don’t need any medication. The doctors said I’m fine. I work on relaxation, eating well, not doing as many long hours.’

Heworkedon them. The carefree Ares she’d met,holidayAres, was a rare creature. She wanted to bring him back here now. She knew how—the way that had always been so easy for them.

‘Relaxation, you say?’ Bethan made a show of pondering. ‘You need to rest now. Maybe you’d better lie down for a bit.’

His eyes kindled. ‘Maybe that’s not a bad idea.’

She lifted his hands from her neck as she stood but kept hold of his wrist. He rose and she led him to her cabin. He said nothing as she tugged the hem of his tee, just lifted his arms so she could strip him out of it. His swim shorts followed so he was naked in mere moments. She pushed and he sank onto the bed. He patted the space beside him, colour fully restored. Hewasfit, but he wastired. That was still evident. While she was feeling wired—not from the win, but the sudden worry and the ensuing spike of adrenalin and relief at his insistence that all this wasn’t anything serious.Yet.Which meant it was still possibly serious. But right now she was relieved he was okay, relieved he still wanted her and she would help himrelax.

‘You’re leaving?’ He frowned as she walked away. ‘You think I’m not up for sex?’

She turned back and raked her gaze down his body again. Oh, he was definitely up.

‘Wouldn’t want you to have a heart attack from over-exerting yourself,’ she teased.

‘You could take charge.’

‘Oh, Ares, didn’t you realise?’ She smiled at him as she wriggled out of her damp clothes. ‘I’m already in charge.’

She dug about in her craft bag then held out her hand. He let her take his wrist again. But when she raised it above his head, he stiffened.

‘What are you doing?’ he muttered.

‘Utilising the knots you told those kids I’m good at.’ She wound wool around his wrist—loosely enough but still secure.

‘You heard me?’

‘I did.’ She smiled. ‘You’re good with them. And Iamgood at knots.’

It wouldn’t take a huge effort for him to rip free from them but he didn’t. He even let her bind his other wrist above his head.

‘This is more than taking charge,’ he pointed out.

She watched the restless roll of his hips and felt her excitement rise. ‘I’m going to make you relax, Ares. But we both know it’ll only be as far as you let me.’

Another ripple of tension swept down him. ‘What is it you’re planning to do?’

‘Everything.’ She found condoms in the bedside table, fully appreciating how perfectly stocked the yacht was. ‘But you have to let me know if I take things too far.’ She ran her fingertip down his stomach.

‘Mmmm.’ He sucked in his cheeks.

She crawled onto the bed, prowling up to kneel astride him. ‘I’m going to keep a close eye on your pulse.’

He watched her hands slide towards his centre. ‘Mypulse, huh?’

‘Well, this is where all your blood seems to have gone.’

He laughed weakly. ‘Bethan...’