Love Me Back (Amelia and Daniel) novel Chapter 99

Amelia’s lashes fluttered before she slowly opened her eyes and turned her head toward him.

Only a small lamp was glowing in the room, casting Daniel’s features in soft, golden light as he gently wiped down her arm.

Once her hand was clean, he reached out to slip off the strap of her nightgown.

Amelia, who’d been quiet all along, finally reacted. She pressed a hand to her chest, her voice fragile and raspy. “...Don’t.”

She looked so delicate, as if the faintest touch might shatter her. Daniel’s patience stretched endlessly. He leaned in, brushing a gentle hand across her cheek, and coaxed her softly. “I’m just helping you change into clean clothes. That’s all, I promise.”

She didn’t answer.

“Come on, sweetheart, your clothes are dirty. You’ll sleep better in something fresh.”

Her lashes quivered for a moment, and then she let her hand drop.

Daniel slipped off her gown and pajama pants, carefully wiped her down, and dressed her in a set of soft, comfortable pajamas. Throughout, his movements were gentle and never crossed the line.

When he finished, he pulled back the covers and slid in beside her.

Amelia’s mind was sluggish with exhaustion. By the time she realized what was happening, Daniel had already wrapped her in his arms.

“Sleep,” he murmured, his deep, soothing voice drifting down from above. “Whatever happened tonight—it’s all just a bad dream. Get some rest, and things will feel better in the morning.”

Maybe everything that happened tonight had left her too stunned to react, but Amelia found herself craving the calm safety of his embrace. She didn’t push him away, letting him hold her.

Daniel chuckled quietly and praised her. “Good girl.”

Amelia said nothing, breathing in the familiar, crisp pine scent clinging to him as she slowly closed her eyes.

Time slipped by in tranquil silence.

The woman in his arms breathed slow and steady.

Daniel eased away a little, gazing down at her peaceful sleeping face.

He watched her for a while, a soft smile curving his lips. “If only you could always be this sweet.”

Then, still smiling, he gently pinched the tip of her nose, his voice half-teasing, half-chiding. “I told you not to run off. If you’d just stay by my side, you wouldn’t have ended up like this, would you?”

“Mischievous girls have to be punished.”

As he spoke, he pressed a kiss to her eyelid—a small penalty.

Then another, this time to her nose. Another kiss, another gentle reprimand.

Finally, he kissed her lips, unable to resist lingering for two more soft, satisfied kisses.

Pulling her back into his arms, he whispered, almost to himself, “I promised I’d keep you safe, for as long as I live. That wasn’t just empty words.”

…

Amelia slept soundly. When her eyes opened again, it was eight in the morning.

She was nestled in the same solid, warm embrace, the fresh scent of pine still at her nose. She blinked, taking a moment to recall where she was and what had happened the night before.

So, she was at Emerald Meadows now, and the man holding her was Daniel.

Amelia didn’t react much. She’d been a mess last night, but she hadn’t lost consciousness.

She didn’t reply, but in her head, she muttered, If we had a dog, you’d come after that too.

She finished brushing and washing up, then walked past him without a glance and went straight to the walk-in closet.

Just as she was about to change, she felt his intense gaze on her. Amelia stopped, annoyed. “Are you seriously spying on me while I get dressed? That’s perverted.”

Daniel lounged against the doorframe. “I’m not spying. I’m watching fair and square.”

When it came to shamelessness, no one could beat Daniel. Regretting that she hadn’t insisted on a lock for the closet door, she grabbed her clothes and marched into the bathroom to change instead.

When she came out, Daniel was already dressed, looking annoyingly presentable.

Amelia grabbed her phone to leave, but Daniel caught her hand. “Let me take you. Give me five minutes.”

She had no idea where he got the nerve to ask, but just as she was about to retort, she paused and changed her mind. “Fine.”

Daniel washed up quickly, and when he came out, he found Amelia sitting obediently at the dining table, waiting for him.

The housekeeper had laid out a lavish breakfast. Daniel’s mood was clearly soaring. He pulled out a chair for her. “Those hospital stuffed buns have nothing on breakfast at home. Breakfast should be shared with your husband—”

A divorce agreement landed with a dramatic flourish right in front of him.

The rest of Daniel’s words died in his throat.

His eyes sharpened as he looked up at her.

The housekeeper, looking like a guilty schoolkid, instantly retreated a good distance, her face screaming, “Don’t ask me, I know nothing!”

“The cleaning crew missed this old paper while sorting out the recycling. I just found it,” Amelia said sweetly, placing a pen in his hand with a charming smile. “Sign it.”