Page 171 of Modern Romance September 2025 1-4

They had come together in many different ways, but gentleness permeated this moment. Something soft and fragile, and though he knew he did not deserve to touch it, he gave himself over to the need to tend it, worship it.

His touch was as soft as her skin, his kisses as gentle as her spirit. He undressed her with a tenderness he had never felt and would have been terrified of if he could think beyond the drugging honey of her mouth.

She unbuttoned his shirt without hurry, pushed it off his shoulders as if they had the rest of their lives to sink into this moment, into each other.

He knew they didn’t, couldn’t, but for a moment he let himself pretend.

He lowered her onto the rug, the sparkle of Christmas lights danced over her perfect skin. He pressed a delicate kiss to each refraction of light. Her fingers threaded through her hair as she murmured words of encouragement.

When he entered her, it was on a merged sigh that felt likefinally. The physical pleasure bloomed with something else. Moving together in a slow, sensual dance. No thought to finding that last release, only the slow, unfurling blossom of a pleasure that went behind body to body, desire born of the sweet perfection of her body.

It had all become more, so much more.

She sighed his name, crested on a delicate wave. And still he did not rush or hurry. He tasted her, rolled with her so that she was atop him, taking her own pace and pleasure. A sensual angel, and all his. Only his.

His own release came on a rush of pleasure, of something deeper and alarming. It twined inside him, and when he realized that it was an emotion he could not label, he could not accept, it became pain.

It was a danger to feel this. To allow it. It was pain to have all this, all ofher, open up something inside him.

Pain was the price.

He would accept it until it was not.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Ameliawasnervous, though she didn’t fully understand why. Even if things didn’t go perfectly, she knew how to deal with event hiccups. She was excellent at smoothing them over. She had handled so many things as Diego’s assistant over the past two years that this was hardlynew.

Except he was here. And she could admit that every morning that she woke with him not just stillherebut in her bed, the more she allowed herself to hope.

Hope was what made her nervous. This happy, settled feeling was what had her heart take up residence in her throat more days than not.

She was nervous because she wanted Diego to enjoy himself. Because she wanted to make him proud.

Because she wanted him to see this whole thing as an expression of her love, even if it hadn’t started out that way.

And yes, that was whatreallymade her nervous, these feelings burgeoning inside her. She had thought by making sure she focused on herself in this endeavor, that whatever was happening with Diego would be secondary. Instead, becoming happy with herself and her life and accepting what she wanted, and taking stock of what she didn’t, somehow made it easier to love.

And the hope he might feel in any way the same was a terrible weight in her midsection. She hadn’t been able to stomach any food all day becauselovetook up all the space. Love and not having a clue what to do about it.

He was not ready for it, she knew.Shewasn’t fullyreadyfor it, but this whole thing had reminded her of all the ways life didn’t care what you were ready for. She’d never been ready to lose her mother, to move from London to Italy, to meet a father she’d never known.

It didn’t make up for losing her mother so young, but the opportunity to have her father in her life had brought joy.

And then tragedy.

Life was like a constant train, over peaks and valleys. She’d been hiding in a valley these past two years, but life was pushing her up the mountain.

She didn’t know that she’d be allowed to drag Diego along with her, and that scared her because it would be a valley to lose him. He had become too much a part of her life. Apartner. The past few weeks had been like living a little play version of what they could be.

Living in the castello, working side by side, sleeping in the same bed. The future spread out before them with so many options, so long as they were together.

“There you are.”

Amelia turned to watch the man in question stride into her room. He held a plate in one hand, but he stopped short. His gaze raked over her, hungry and possessive, just the way she liked. Not that they had time for allthat.

“You look beautiful,” he said simply.

She beamed because compliments from him were rare. At least when they were dressed. “And you look very handsome.” He was dressed for dinner in a dark suit. “Though it could use some Christmas pizazz.”