Page 3 of Amethyst Queen
Chapter 3
Knocking startled Amalee awake. She had fallen asleep on the floor of her closet, still clutching the photo. Stowing it back in the box, she replaced it on the shelf at the back of her closet and hurried out.
Pulling the door open, her breath hitched. Standing on the other side was not the man she expected to see.
“What are you doing here?”
“Can I come in? Or would that be breaking mommy’s rules?”
“Mommy doesn’t live here anymore, so,” she opened the door wider, “Come in.”
She watched his backside as he breezed past her. There was no denying her body still responded to him, her whole being was tingling with need. A need, she had to remind her head, that wasn’t allowed to be filled.
“Why are you here, Constable?”
“I think we can drop the formalities, Amalee.”
Nodding her head, “Fine. Dante.”
“Is there something you’re not telling me?”
Amalee froze, “What do you mean?”
He tilted his head, looking at her. Amalee felt as though he was undressing her as he raked his eyes over her body. Starting at her toes and ending at her head.
“Captain Howard is concerned. He feels something is going on with you… and honestly, I have to agree.”
Amalee shook her head, “I told you I was fine.”
“Amalee,” he reached out, palming her face, “Please do not lie to me.”
Leaning into his touch, Amalee closed her eyes. She couldn’t help the tears from welling beneath her lashes. Dante rubbed his thumb across her cheek, wiping away the moisture that was gathering.
“Why are you crying?” his voice a mere whisper.
“I…,” she stuttered, lost in the moment, “I can’t tell you.”
“Amalee, you can tell me anything. Doesn’t our history mean anything to you?”
“Our history is exactly why I can’t tell you.”
Amalee pulled away, putting the needed space between them. She walked to the window and stared into the darkened sky. Her heart longed to hold him, but her mind knew it was a dangerous place to go.
“When are you going to stop letting the chains your mother has placed on you define you? You’re twenty-two, Amalee. Maybe you should do what you want.”
Taking a breath, “It doesn’t matter what I want anymore. Dante, I’m not the same person I was.”
She felt him step behind her, his chest pressing into her back. She inhaled his scent, reminding her of time passed.
“You’re the same woman, Amalee.”
“Please, Dante. I can’t. Don’t ask me.”
“Fine… when you’re ready, come find me.”
She felt his absence immediately. Turning, she called out his name, “Dante,” she held his eyes, “There are things about me that would cause you to hate my very existence.”
Dante gripped the handle to the door, “There is nothing that would make me hate you – ever. You may have walked away, but I didn’t.”
Amalee gave into the tears as the wooden door slammed like a nail to her heart. He didn’t know how hard it was for her, and there wasn’t any way to make him understand.
