‘Tell me, Amber. I care about you.’ The words spilled out, uncensored and unplanned. But they were true. Hearing them, Aurelio realised how true they were. Amber was special. Her distress tore at him. ‘I want to help.’
Yet instead of easing her hurt, his words seemed to have the opposite effect. He watched her mouth drag down in a grimace and felt a rough shudder pass through her as if she fought a mighty internal struggle.
Stymied, Aurelio considered his options. If he couldn’t fix the problem, for now all he could do was look after her. There was no way he could simply turn around and leave Amber like this. Remarkably for a man who shunned complications, the thought of her crying alone in her room was even worse than the possibility of her crying on him.
He knew the sort of comfort women liked. Hadn’t he been a rock for Valentina, for his little sister, Lia, and even for his widowed mother through the years?
Silently, Aurelio released his hold on her and instead wrapped his arms around her, drawing her close.
Amber stiffened in his embrace, jerking her head back to stare up at him. Her mouth worked, ready to protest but then she apparently changed her mind. Another shudder ripped through her, her shoulders sagged and the fight left her.
Strange, the feeling of peace he felt as she finally gave up fighting him and let her head sink against his chest. He gathered her even nearer, tucking her right against him, stroking her hair in a slow, soothing rhythm.
He wished he could be a bastion between Amber and whatever had sent her into an uncharacteristic meltdown. Aurelio’s heart hammered at the idea of her so distressed. When he found out who’d hurt her he’d make them pay. In the meantime, he’d cuddle her till she quietened.
They stood so long he lost track of time. But he was in no hurry. He could stand here all night if it meant holding Amber in his arms.
He’d missed her. Keeping to his hands-off policy had driven him crazy.
Was it selfish to enjoy the feel of her in his embrace when she was still obviously hurting?
Probably. But Aurelio refused to follow that train of thought. Instead he concentrated on moulding her to him, hoping she’d find comfort in his warmth and strength, palming her slippery silk hair in long strokes and fighting to ignore the trickles of heat radiating through him at that sensual caress.
This is about Amber, not you.
He planted his legs wider, suddenly restless. Not with holding her, but as his body responded to the proximity of Amber’s sweet body against him. To those breasts pushing against his ribs with every shuddering breath she took. To the sunny, floral perfume filling his nostrils. To the feel of her hands tucked up flat against his chest.
He tried but couldn’t stop thoughts of how those delicate hands had moulded his bare body, exploring, awakening, teasing and ultimately pleasuring.
His groin tightened and once more he shifted his weight. But instead of helping, Amber moved closer, as if wanting to burrow into him.
Aurelio gritted his teeth, dragging in a sustaining breath. If he wasn’t careful it wouldn’t be simply comfort he offered her. Already he felt heat drive down into his loins. That all too familiar strain in his lower body. It might have been two months since they’d had sex but he reacted to Amber’s proximity like they were still lovers.
He had to end this now, to draw back and give her space.
Exhaling, he let his hand drop from her hair. But instead of falling to his side somehow it anchored in the thick toweling robe covering the swell of her hip. His hand moved, splaying possessively, holding her to him.
A judder of heat passed through him.
On the next breath he’d make himself step back.
Except on the next breath Amber lifted her head.
Her pink lips were parted, as if she too had trouble drawing in enough oxygen. The tears were gone but her eyelashes were spiked with wetness. Her eyes were clouded with turbulent emotion.
Aurelio looked into them and felt himself falling, drawn closer and closer.
There was a gasp, a flare of brilliance in her gaze, then his mouth closed on hers and for the first time in two months, the world felt right.