She jumped when the bedroom door opened and Byron walked in sheepishly. “May I talk to you?”

“If you want.” Amelia got up and saw Byron’s eyes devour her body in the new lingerie she was wearing, and despite everything that had gone on, her body responded to Byron, as it always did. It was like she had no control.

Byron appeared distressed, tense, and emotional, not her usual controlled demeanour. Amelia stopped in front of her and said, “Well?”

Byron gulped hard. “I came here to tell you that whatever happens from now on, whether you forgive me or not, everything I’ve done or will do is because—” Byron looked down.

“Because what, Byron?”

She watched Byron take a breath, stand a little taller, and say, “Because I love you. I think I’ve loved you since I first set eyes on you.”

Amelia’s heart soared, and she momentarily forgot about all their other trouble. She had dreamed about Byron saying those words. “I love you, Byron. I wanted to say it for so long, but I was worried I’d scare you away.”

Byron raised her hand and cupped her cheek. “You’re so beautiful.”

Amelia melted into Byron’s touch, and her overwhelming emotions couldn’t be stopped. They came together in a desperate passionate kiss. Byron kissed her like it was her last, and Amelia met her with equal passion.

They pulled at each other’s clothes desperately, needing to feel skin. Byron walked them to the bed, tasting and kissing all the way. Amelia lay down on the bed, and Byron frantically pulled off her trousers, and joined Amelia.

Amelia pulled Byron back into a passionate kiss. She wanted to lose herself in their passion and not think about everything that was so confusing and worrying. She grasped Byron’s hand and put it on her breast. Amelia groaned into their kiss as Byron squeezed. Byron pulled back and said emotionally, “I love you—I love you, mia cara.”

“I love you, Byron. I’ve loved you for so long.”

Byron licked and kissed around the mark on her throat, while she gently grasped Amelia’s sex. Every time they made love, Byron concentrated on her neck, and Amelia wondered why. She pulled Byron’s head up and was sure she saw the red glints she had seen a couple of times before.

“Sweetheart, tell me why you like to kiss and bite me there.”

Byron looked almost dazed as she thought about her answer. “I want to taste you. I always want to taste you.”

“Taste me, then. Tonight, we’re holding nothing back.”

“I can’t. I would hurt you,” Byron said.

“How could you hurt me? Taste me like you want to. I want you to be free. I won’t break,” Amelia said firmly.

Her words must have hit home because Byron pushed two fingers inside her making her gasp. In return she pulled Byron’s head down into the crook of her neck.

“Taste me. Like you want to,” Amelia said, wrapping her legs around Byron’s thighs.