Jo looked into her eyes, and for the first time in days, she saw something familiar. Not Lia. Not the stranger in the dark. JustAmelia. Broken and flawed, but real.
“I’ll tell you everything. No more lies. No more hiding. Just give me the chance, please.”
Jo’s fingers lingered at Amelia’s wrist, not quite holding her hand but not pulling away either. She felt the warmth of Amelia’s skin and the faint tremble beneath it, and something inside her softened. Amelia had lied, she’d played a part, but beneath the mask—behind every touch, every whisper, and every moan—she had beenherself. Jo could see that now. And eventhough the hurt hadn’t vanished, it no longer felt like it was the only thing in the room. In that moment, it felt as though there was hope.
“You look exhausted.” Jo grazed her thumb over the back of Amelia’s hand. “When was the last time you slept?”
“Does it count if you were crying while doing it?”
Jo’s heart broke at that. She leaned in closer, close enough to feel Amelia’s breath on her skin. “You shouldn’t be alone tonight.”
“I don’t want to be.”
Without thinking, Jo reached out and cupped Amelia’s cheek. Her skin was warm, flushed from the rush of emotion, and as Jo’s thumb moved instinctively, tracing the tear-stained path beneath her eye, Amelia leaned into her touch and closed her eyes.
“Can I…?” Jo didn’t even know how to finish that question. It wasn’t one she’d thought she could ever ask before this moment. But she didn’t need to finish it, because Amelia was already nodding, her breath catching as she opened her eyes and focused on Jo’s lips.
Jo drew her in and kissed her. Not hard, not fast, andnothinglike the frantic desperation of the dark room. This kiss was slow, unmistakable, and as Jo’s hand moved to the back of Amelia’s neck, her fingers sliding into the loose strands of her hair as her lips pressed softly, she felt as though life was being breathed back into her.
Amelia’s hand rested on Jo’s thigh, her touch tentative at first, as though she was afraid too much pressure would ruin the moment. But then their bodies found each other. Jo opened to Amelia slowly, tasting the faint salt of her tears, but something far sweeter beneath it. Amelia…thereal, unmasked Amelia. It was the kind of kiss that could only happen when nothing else inthe world mattered. When words had run out, and touch was all that remained.
Jo deepened the kiss, her other hand now resting high up Amelia’s thigh. She felt her body give in, not lustfully and not in a way that begged for more, but in a way that simply said, ‘thank God you’re here.’
When they finally pulled apart, Jo touched her forehead to Amelia’s.
“God, I didn’t think that would ever happen,” Amelia whispered, her voice a mixture of wonder and pain.
“I didn’t think I’d ever want it to after the last few days.” Jo stroked her thumb against Amelia’s jaw.
“What does it mean?”
Jo looked into her eyes, those same eyes she’d fallen for long before Callum had even left her. “I don’t know yet, but I think I want to find out.”
Amelia’s eyes closed as she exhaled a deep breath. The weight of everything was beginning to settle, and as Jo sat here, Amelia had never looked so beautiful.
“Stay here with me tonight.” Jo took a firm grip of Amelia’s hand and rested back against the couch. “Just…be here with me. Please?”
Amelia removed her coat and curled up beside her. “I can’t go back home. Not if he’s still there.”
Jo knew there was a conversation to be had in the morning, but right now, she wanted to just be. She wanted to rest, relax, and hold Amelia until their eyes closed and the last few days faded away. She wrapped a blanket around them, pulled Amelia closer, and listened to the sound of her breathing even out beside her.
Things may not be perfect, but they were real, and that was more than either of them had expected to find.
Chapter Twenty-Three
As the earlymorning light crept in through Jo’s curtains, Amelia lay on her side, her eyes open but unfocused, watching the shadows from the swaying trees against the wardrobe door. She hadn’t slept much throughout the night. Though her body was too exhausted to fight rest entirely, her mind hadn’t quieted for a single second. Because she was here, in Jo’s bed, and she didn’t understand how.
She’d hurt this woman so much that Amelia struggled to think about it. She had done the one thing she’d sworn she’d never do…and fallen for her through the darkness. She didn’t deserve what Jo had offered last night, and she didn’t deserve to have her in her life moving forward. But again…she was here.
Jo was still sleeping behind her, her breath warm against the back of Amelia’s neck, and her arm draped over Amelia’s waist like she had every right to be there. God, Amelia wanted her to. But if shereallywanted Jo to stay, if shereallywanted something good and strong with her…then the truth had to come next.
Allof it.
Not just the mess of the last few weeks, and not just the dark room, but the pain and ugliness that had shaped the woman Jowas still getting to know. The version of Amelia sheneverlet anyone see. The one she’d buried beneath years of survival and silence.
She carefully turned beneath Jo’s arm and watched her sleeping. She looked younger like this. Softer, perhaps. Amelia studied the faint crease between her brows, the long lashes resting on her cheeks, the peaceful rise and fall of her chest. She didn’t want to ruin that, but the weight of the truth was pulsing just beneath Amelia’s ribs, and ithadto come out.
She brushed Jo’s arm lightly and whispered, “Hey…”
