His entire body stiffened.
He immediately turned around.
And froze.
His eyes landed on her.
For the first time that night, complete silence filled the room.
Amara stood there nervously in lingerie, her damp hair falling loosely around her shoulders. The thin fabric clung softly to her body, the deep neckline exposing her skin and curves.
Elias’s movements stopped completely.
His gaze darkened slightly before moving back to her face.
Amara’s throat tightened under his stare.
Still, she forced herself to speak.
“We’ve been married for over a year, Elias…” she whispered shakily. “Can we sleep together tonight?”
There was nervousness in her expression.
Hope.
Fear.
Everything she had left was placed in that single question.
But she couldn’t stop herself anymore.
Not after hearing she only had three months left to live.
Not after realizing she might die without ever once being kissed by the man she loved more than anyone.
Amara slowly looked up at him, her glassy eyes fixed on his face as she waited desperately for some reaction.
Anything.
Elias gently removed her arms from around his waist. The warmth of his body disappeared instantly.
Then he stepped away from her.
“There’s no hurry,” he said calmly. “We will do it later.”
The words shattered her completely.
He sounded so unaffected.
So untouched by her.
As if she could stand in front of him wearing nothing at all and it still wouldn’t matter.
Amara felt her heart crack so violently it almost felt physical.
If heartbreak made a sound, she was sure the entire house would have heard it.
But then—
