CHAPTER THREE

AMELIA

Panic surges as I push through the swinging door of the makeshift kitchen, my heart hammering in my chest.

Of all the scenarios I’d imagined for seeing him again, running away like a frightened child wasn’t one of them. That’s not who I am—not who I’ve become. But something about him still has the power to unnerve me, to shake me to my core.

Jules hurries into the room behind me. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

I swallow hard. “Nathan.”

She freezes, the color in her face draining. “Oh, shit.” She doesn’t need to ask for details. She knows the history, the betrayal, the pain. She’s been my rock through it all.

“Yeah, I know.”

The door swings open, and he strides in, his eyes locked on me, jaw clenched. The scowl catches me off guard. What does he have to be angry about after everything he’s done?

“We need to talk.” His voice is low, commanding.

I glance at Jules.

She shifts on her feet, torn between staying and giving me space.

“It’s fine,” I tell her. “This will only take a moment.”

I walk past him and lead him down the hall, my heels clicking louder than my pounding heart. The empty corridor amplifies the noise. It’s chilling.

We step into a small, muted room, the air fragrant with the scent of flowers. I turn to face him and cross my arms, a barrier against the onslaught of memories and emotions.

We stand there, eyes locked, tension thick in the air. Without warning, he closes the distance between us. His lips crash against mine, his fingers tangling in my hair. The suddenness of it all leaves me breathless, stunned. It’s like a dam has broken, releasing years of pent-up desire and longing I thought I had buried.

He moves his grasp from my hair to my waist, and in one swift motion, lifts me and presses my back against the wall. My breath catches as the kiss deepens, and the world outside fades to nothing but the rhythm of our hearts, the heat of our bodies, and the taste of him, so familiar and intoxicating.

His hands roam my body with a familiarity that ignites long-forgotten sensations. Shivers course through me as I respond in kind, my fingers tracing the hard lines of his body, reveling in the feel of him, the power of this moment.

Our movements grow frenzied, desperate, as we lose ourselves in the intensity of the reconnection. His grip on me tightens, keeping me steady as he pushes my panties aside. His body joins mine with a force that steals my breath, giving me little time to adjust. I should protest, should stop this madness—but I don’t. It feels too good and right, as if it were meant to happen.

My legs and arms wrap around him, and I cling to him as he drives harder. We’re lost in the fire of our need, the sharp edge of desire consuming us both. It doesn’t take long for us to shatter, our bodies trembling in unison as we find release.

He puts me down and moves away, and the air between us shifts. The sudden silence contrasts with the previous passion.

We step away from each other, the weight of what just happened crashing down. He adjusts his clothes, eyes averted, while I fumble to straighten my dress, my mind spinning with guilt, regret, and disbelief.

I strike him across the cheek, the sharp sound echoing in the small room. My hand stings, but not as much as my heart. “I won’t let you do this to me again. I won’t let you break me.”

Heart pounding, I turn and flee. I need space, air—anything to put distance between us. My thoughts race, filled with a desperate need to remember who I am, what I’ve become, and all I’ve fought for.

Bursting through the doors, the sound of the party floods my senses. I spot Jules across the room, her eyes filled with worry. I can’t fall apart, not here, not now.

Straightening my shoulders, I summon the strength to finish this job. I’ve faced worse, survived worse. And I’ll be damned if I let Nathan Grant destroy everything I’ve worked for.