Amelia rubbed at her temples. She hadn’t meant for this to happen. When Callum had left Jo, when everything had crumbled, Jo had looked lost. As though she hadn’t anticipated a life without Callum in it. Amelia had hurt for her, wanting tohelp her through in any way she could, while pushing her own feelings for Jo aside. She had loved her from afar, knowing the consequences of speaking out.
But then the dark room had come into play.
Amelia knew what she should have done the moment she realised it was Jo Bleasdale booked into that room. She knew what she should have done the second she felt Jo’s warm skin beneath her fingertips.
She should have left.
But she hadn’t.
So now, here she was. In love with a woman who would never forgive her if she knew the truth. A woman who deserved so much more than what ‘Lia’ could offer her within the confines of the darkness.
As Amelia lowered her head to her hands, her phone buzzed again.
I keep thinking about Lia. Who knew a faceless woman could be so addictive!
Amelia’s breath caught as she looked down at the screen. She wanted to respond to Jo with ‘she’s sitting at home right now drinking coffee and thinking about you, too’, but she couldn’t. Instead, she just stared. Revealing who she was would cost Amelia everything, and she couldn’t afford to lose everything right now. Jo was the one slice of happiness Amelia had allowed herself in a long time.
Casual. Go for casual.
Amelia squared her shoulders, determined to deal with this and then move on with her day.
I guess you’ll be seeing her again then…
One day soon, Jo would want more than the mystery. She would ask to meet Lia, to…see her face. And rightfully so. Amelia just didn’t know whether that day would be the beginning of something or the end of everything.
So, she would prepare for the worst.
That was generally the direction her life took anyway.
Jo satcross-legged on the rug in her living room, a half-empty glass of red wine cradled between her palms as Ada sprawled across the couch in front of her. They hadn’t had the chance to catch up since the first night at Satin, but Jo knew that was the reason for Ada’s visit. She’d known her best friend long enough to note that twinkle in her eye when she was on the prowl for information. But this was nice. It was safe. Jo had lit candles just before Ada had arrived, wanting the evening to feel chilled. They hadn’t had a night like this in a while. Just her and Ada with no distractions.
Ada popped an olive into her mouth and chewed slowly. “So, I’ve been patient, but Ineeddetails. Did you enjoy Satin? Are you addicted yet?”
Jo laughed as she sipped her wine. “I don’t know about addicted.”
“That’s not a no.” Ada arched a brow.
Jo sighed, then smiled as she brought her knees to her chest and rested her chin on them. “It’s a lot. But good. I mean, I was a little nervous the night you took me, but then somehow, I ended up back there the following night.”
Ada sat up straight. “Wait, seriously? You went backalone? On night two?”
“Yeah. I don’t know what came over me. I think I just…needed to feel that again. The safety. The anonymity. And her.”
Ada tilted her head. “Her?”
Jo hesitated and lowered her wine glass. “Lia. That’s what she told me her name is. She’s the woman I’ve been…well, seeing isn’t quite the word, but you know what I mean.”
Ada leaned forward, her eyes narrowed. “You found someone in the dark room worth going back for?”
Jo nodded slowly. “Yeah. That first night, it was like she knew exactly how to touch me. How to make me feel things I didn’t think I was capable of anymore.”
Ada grinned. “And you’ve seen her again since then?”
“Both nights I’ve been there, yes.” Jo’s palms grew clammy not only with the thought of Lia, but Amelia, too. “It’s like my body just knows when she’s in the room. I’ve never experienced anything like it. She makes me feel…wanted. In a way that isn’t just about sex.”
“Sounds like more than a casual club fling, Jo.”
“It feels like it,” Jo said. “But then I remind myself that itisa club. And she probably does this with other women all the time. I mean, that’s what she’s there for, right?”
