Why her? Why not someone else?
“Thank you,” she whispers softly, and my gaze settles on her eyes, filled with endless sadness and shame. I instantly feel the urge to hold her again and keep her safe. The urge overwhelms me, and I sit down beside her on the edge of the bed. My fingers move on their own, gently brushing her curls away from her face.
So soft. So delicate.
Amelia briefly closes her eyes, and I see her swallow before she looks back at me. And fuck, I’m definitely not unaffected by those eyes.
“You surprise me again and again, Goldilocks. I never thought you’d be stupid enough to pick a fight with Robins. But, obviously, I was wrong.” My voice sounds smooth and gentle, yet my words are anything but, and I’m fully aware of that.
Amelia’s eyes reveal her feelings as they lock onto me, clearly shaken.
“I… Damien. They insulted Damien.” She looks at me helplessly, drilling her blue into my gray. Like a magnet, I lean down to her, letting my nose brush against hers.
Touch. I want to touch her.
“I know. Still, it was stupid. Stupid and dangerous. And that’s not really you, is it?” Once more, I can’t resist and my lips lightly and gently brush against hers, filled with an intense feeling. They’re soft, and damn it, I know how she tastes. I want to taste her again.
My nose sweeps across her cheek as I breathe in the soothing scent of lavender she gives off.
“Hmmm…” Nothing more passes her lovely, slightly parted lips, as I feel her breath against mine.
Her pulse is racing, visible at her neck, and my thumb glides over it softly, barely noticeable, making her shiver.
Fuck. She’s driving me crazy.
“Hmmm is not an answer, Goldilocks,” I whisper, gently nibbling her lower lip, making her gasp.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
With one hand above her head and the other on her neck, I’m about to throw myself on her, ready to devour her completely.
“He… he was important to Phil… he… I…” she stammers, desperately trying to regain control, but her words hit me like a bucket of ice water dumped over my head.
Philipp. She was Phil’s wife. Not mine. She never should have been. She doesn’t want me. It’s just an arranged thing.
These thoughts bother me, piss me off, and again this rage rises inside me.
I don’t want her. She doesn’t want me. It’s all just an illusion.
“Just try to think next time before you mess things up.”
I admit it. I sound like an asshole. The words come out hard and cold as I put space between us, get up, and turn away. But I can still see how much I hurt her, and that pisses me off. I piss myself off.
“Don’t worry. From now on, I’ll just watch as people you care about get discriminated against. Sorry for trying to do the right thing.” She sounds hurt, and the disgusting feeling of being a complete jerk grows stronger. Along with my anger.
“If you want to get it right next time, then follow through and don’t let fear hold you back. Don’t wait around for someone else to come save you,” I snap at her before I can stop myself, and she flinches as if I struck her. In a way, I guess I did.
Shit, what am I doing here?
Feeling the tension, I drag a hand down my face as my stomach churns more and more.
Fuck, that hit hard.
“Amelia, I…”
“Out.” She’s sitting up now, staring at me with blazing eyes. But it’s not hate that shines back at me. She looks like a deeply wounded animal, and suddenly I feel really sick.
Shit, I didn’t mean that at all.
