Page 62 of Pervade Montego Bay

I pushed myself up on my elbows. “What is it?”

“It’s nothing,” she said quickly, and hurried out of view.

Xavier

Pressing my fingertip to my lips, I warned Emily to remain silent. I didn’t want James to know I was here. I needed to catch my breath and adjust to being back at Royal Court Manor. The last time James and I had been inthishouse together, just over eight months ago, he’d told me he was sending me away to Washington. That had been the catalyst for all that followed.

It had led me toher.

My beautiful and elegantly poised Emily.

She took a step past James’ bedroom door, out of his line of sight, and fixed her astonished stare on me. This woman was beautiful in every conceivable way. I’d memorized the dazzling color of her irises, a glimmering emerald green that revealed an enduring trust in me. I had dreamed of the way her mouth naturally pouted, the way she emanated an aura of enchantment. Being apart from her wrenched my soul—I loved her more than life itself.

The cruelest truth I’d learned was that letting someone go can be the purest form of love. Yet the fallout devastates the one left behind, a fact I had also discovered.

Emily hurried forward with her expression full of hope.

Opening my arms, I embraced her, drawing her close to my body and surrendering to her affection.

“Is he okay?” I whispered.

“He’ll be okay. I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Downstairs,” I mouthed.

Quietly, we broke apart from our hug and descended to the first floor. Her presence stirred up my emotions like it always did. Emily was a reminder that there was beauty in this mess of a world. Not just in her stunning features, but her kind-hearted nature.

Taking long strides ahead of her, I forced my expression to become passive and unreadable—just in case she’d decided she didn’t want me anymore. I’d put her through so much. She needed to know I was ready to let her go if that’s what she desired.

AllI wanted to do was turn around and embrace her again. Tell her I loved her and that I was never letting her go…but that would be selfish.

It was as though time stood still in this grand manor. Memories of my first visit here with James came flooding back as brightly as the natural sunlight seeping in through the blinds. As we walked through the house on our way to the kitchen, the recollection of what had once occurred in each room we passed triggered a visceral response…each conversation I had ever had with James, every caress that had passed between us, every moment that had felt as natural as breathing itself.

The place was dark because Emily had turned off the lights in case James ventured out of his room. Her willingness to care for him came as no surprise. I knew she was good for James—even if he didn’t.

I led her through the long winding hallways until we reached the kitchen, where even more memories flooded my synapses like fireworks lighting up the night sky. In this room, James and I had plotted our return to London. We’d prepared ourselves to take on the world.

Before, I had dreamed of going back to those days of just me and James and our grandiose plans, but now things were different. Emily was an exquisite gift.

“Did you hear what happened?” she said.

“Yes.” I shook my head at the thought of such a serious accident.

“Thank you for being here.”

I wasn’t sure if I could stay and resist the urge to touch or kiss her—but I didn’t want to admit that now. Not after seeing her eyes fill with tears of relief. Or maybe they were tears of sorrow for what I’d put her through.

“How are you?” she asked, moving closer.

I wanted to give her a comforting smile, but I didn’t know if her feelings for me had changed. “Fine.”

“What’s wrong, Xavier?”

“I just need a moment to process everything.”

She suppressed a sob. “Why didn’t you come before now?”

“I was close.”