Page 49 of In Love and War

I wanted to say something. To come up with an excuse,anyexcuse, but my jaw was clamped shut. So I just nodded, looking away.

“Amelia…”

I hated, hated, hated how he said my name.

The sound of it coming out of his mouth made my heart pinch and flutter, every single time. And the reaction was growing stronger and less subtle recently.

“Did I…” he continued, hesitating. “Were you… I know it got rough, and I’m sorry if I…”

I didn’t know where this was going, but I wasn’t expecting him to struggle getting it out. This was a first.

“Did I hurt you?”

What?

My head snapped toward him in surprise, and I saw a look of dismay painted across his features.

“What? No! Of course not!” I exclaimed.

He visibly relaxed, his shoulders deflating an inch.

“Why the hell would you think that?”

Which part of me screaming his name in pure ecstasy could have possibly made him think hehurtme?

“Are you kidding?” He looked at me likeIwas the crazy one. “You should have seen yourself and how you reacted as soon as we were done. I’ve never seen a girl shut down like that and run away so quickly afterwards.”

The thought of him having donethatwith other girls made me instantly nauseous.

“That wasn’t… obviously… it wasn’t because…”

Great, now I was the one who couldn’t get the words out.

“I think I might have left something in your room” was what I decided to blurt out instead of finishing my sentence.

Smooth, Milly. Real smooth.

A smile nudged at his lips as soon as I said it, a more playful tone coloring his features.

“Like what?” he asked, tilting his head.

“Like a small piece of fabric that I’d like back, please.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You’re lying.”

“Am not.”

“Give it back.”

“Give what back?”

“Youknowwhat.”

“Do I?”

“Zac!”