AMELIA suddenly broke away.
It wasn’t dramatic, not loud, but it was abrupt enough to snap Charles out of the haze he had been drowning in. She lifted her hand to her mouth, wiping her lips as though something had startled her into awareness. She took a step back, breathing unevenly, her eyes darting away from his face.
Charles stared at her, stunned.
“Hey… hey,” he said softly, confusion settling into his tone. “What is wrong?” He searched her face. “Did I do something? Were you not enjoying it? Or—” he laughed nervously, trying to lighten the air, “—was the moment too much?”
She shook her head quickly.
“No. No, it is not that.”
“Then what?” he pressed, his brows pulling together. “Amelia, you just— you pulled away like you saw a ghost.”
Her shoulders sagged. The adrenaline draine
