Like he already knew her answer before she could even speak it. And maybe he did. Julian knew her too well now. He knew the way she reached for him in her sleep. The way her voice softened whenever she said his name.
The way she looked at him was like he was the only safe place left in her world. He knew. Amara swallowed nervously.
"What if…" she started weakly. "Julian, what if I…"
"You can't say it." His voice was teasingly soft, but there was emotion underneath it. Amara froze.
Julian smiled slightly wider now, looking almost unfairly handsome in the soft morning light despite the exhaustion in his eyes.
Because even now, even after everything, he looked at her with absolute certainty. "You can't say you don't love me," he murmured. Amara's throat tightened instantly.
"Come here." Before she could react, Julian gently pulled her back against his chest again. His arms wrapped around her carefully, protectively. For a few seconds, neither of them spoke.
