"I saw you wincing when you got up," he said, his voice dropping into a low, concerned register as he closed the distance. He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, his chin resting on her shoulder. "I hope I didn't overdo it... I was trying to hold back a little. I didn't want to hurt you, Amara."
She turned in his arms, her hands sliding up the smooth skin of his chest. "No," she lied softly, though the slight stiffness in her gait gave her away. She looked up at him, her curiosity piqued by the admission. "What exactly do you mean by 'holding back'?"
She didn't give him a chance to answer with words. The idea that he had been tempering his own fire even in their most intense moments sparked something fierce in her.
"Don't hold back," she murmured, her voice steady and demanding. "I'm your wife now. I want all of you, Julian. Not the version that's afraid of my fragility."
