CHAPTER 39—AMELIA POV

I took a few moments to just to look at him, to adore him. He smiled and nodded at me. I didn't know what he meant by it, but I couldn't help but smile back and sit back down in the back.

Xavier's mum, Annie, was giving a long and incredibly emotional eulogy for Eric, but I didn't even hear it. Xavier and I were in what seemed like a never-ending staring competition.

I had seen him so many times but today I couldn't stop staring at him, drinking up every single one of his beautiful features. The way he looked at me made me feel alive even at a funeral.

Annie's speech is cut when the church doors creak open again.

It was Xavier's dad.

Why was he so late to his own son's funeral?

Even as he's walking into the church, he's saying goodbye to someone on the phone. Everyone was staring at him, but it didn't seem to faze him.

He stands next to Xavier, up on the stage where Eric's coffin is, placing a supportive hand on his shoulder. I felt like something wasn't right, but Xavier seemed fine, and he knew better what was happening.

Annie didn't say anything, but her face looked disappointed as she continued. After she's finished, Xavier's dad takes the mic.

"Eric was a good son," he sighed. "And I wish I told him that when he was alive because that boy would run to the ends of the world to make his parents happy."

He turned to Annie, and they shared a knowing smile.

"He left us too early, but I'm sure he's in a much better place and at peace now."

After he finishes everyone applauds.

Soon after it's time to bury the body—only Xavier, his parents and a few other close family members attend. I decided not to as it was a deeply intimate moment, and I didn't want to feel like I was intruding.

I stay behind, mostly making small talk with the more distant family members who also didn't attend the burial.

"Nice you finally see you, Amelia," a woman who I learned was Xavier's aunt greeted me. "I didn't attend the wedding, and you two got divorced so soon, I never got a chance to meet you."

"Love burns out," I replied morbidly.

She looked at me awkwardly, not knowing what to say afterwards, but luckily, she didn't have to when I felt a strong hand on my shoulder.

"Can I steal her?" Xavier's smooth voice asked, and the aunt nods eagerly, probably happy she doesn't have to talk to me anymore.

Before I can say anything, Xavier takes his hand into mine and pulls me out of the church through a side exit.

I'm against the wall of the building and Xavier is standing inches away from me, his eyes gazing into mine. I've always felt so exposed when he did that because I knew how easily he could decipher me.

"You look nice," he said lowly.

"Really?" I scoffed. I knew how much of a mess I looked this morning, and I was sure nothing had changed.

"You always do." His words made me blush. "I've missed you," he breathed out.

"You saw me yesterday." I chuckled, referring to when he came to see the video.

"That's not the way I want to see you." He closes the gap between us, putting his face in the crook of my neck.

His lips hadn't even touched me, and I could hear my breathing already getting heavier. He smiles against my neck, knowing his effect on me, before placing small pretty kisses.

His hands are rested on my waist and mine travel to sit on his shoulders as his lips move up to meet mine.

He kissed me twice, one was a short kiss from which he quickly pulled away, looking at my face briefly before diving in again. This time when his lips met mine, the butterflies in my stomach went insane.

My heart pounded against my chest and my knees got weaker as he slid his tongue into my mouth, my fingers curled around his neck as he easily won the battle between our lips.

Every sense of mine was absolutely and undoubtedly addicted to him. My lips couldn't get enough of his taste, my ears could never get tired of his voice, my hands couldn't help but run along his body, his scent was absolutely intoxicating and my eyes…

Every time my eyes met his, my entire body fluttered.

"Xavier." I could barely even talk.

"Not now," he almost commanded, but I listened.

Business could come later.

Heat rose from my stomach to my chest to my face to the point where I was surprised I wasn't burning Xavier.

"I-I love—" His words were heavily laced with lust.

"Shh," I quieted him. Those were the words I didn't want to hear, because as soon as I do, I'm done for.

My lips lean into him again, this time he lets me lead the kiss. There was something about kissing him against the walls of a church that made me feel so sinfully good.

"Stop. Amelia, stop." He pulls away but is still extremely close to me. "If we carry on, I may not be able to control myself, and I don't want to do anything in the house of God."

I chuckle, resting my head on his shoulder. We stay still for a moment, just enjoying each bother's presence, intimately, "I believe you have a company to sign back to me," Xavier broke the silence jokingly.

"Yes, I have the paperwork ready. I'll come by tomorrow, and we'll get it done."

"How about now?" he asked.

"It's literally your brother's funeral," I said.

"After everything he's done, I think he'll let me off if I leave early.''

We both get into our separate cars and meet again at Kings Corp. and walk up to his office.

When we get up there, I see Leroy already there. I raise an eyebrow to Xavier.

"Boss man!" Leroy runs up to Xavier pulling him into a massive bear hug which Xavier returns with equal excitement.

"You've gotten close with your assistant," I joked.

"This is nothing. I married the one before this one."

I go onto his work computer and print off the copy of the document, ready for him to sign.

"Let me check for any sneaky clauses." He laughed, reading through the papers.

I know he was only joking but it hurt a little to know that he didn't trust me completely, but I guess I deserved it after everything I put him through.

Finally, he signed it and returned it for me to sign.

"Leroy, go and make a couple copies of this." Xavier hands him the paper. Leroy takes the paper and jumps excitedly.

"Feels good to be back!" he cheered before going out the office.

Now it's just me and Xavier.

"Amelia, I need to talk to you," Xavier said, and I already knew what it was about.

"Xavier, don't. Please don't," I tried to stop him before he even said anything.

"No. I have to let you know. Amelia, I love you. Always have and always will."

"No."

"I'm sorry," he said. "But I do."

My eyes watered as he said it. I wanted to say it back so badly, but I didn't. I couldn't.

Because I don't trust him.

And what is love without trust?

"Xavier, please," I pleaded. "Don't put yourself up for pain you don't deserve."

"I don't care," he said. "I've had my choice of women these past 4 years, and not one even came close to how much you meant to me. You're irreplaceable."

Tears begin flowing out my ears as he says that, and I don't know whether they're tears of joy or sadness.

"I don't love you," I said. I wanted to hurt him, so he left me because I wouldn't be with him, and I would rather him hate me than not be able to match his love.

"Don't lie," he scoffed and called me out. "I can read you like a book."

That was true.

"I want you. I need you, Amelia. Please just say yes."

"No, Xavier. No."

Before he could say anything, Leroy returns with the papers. "Oh, sorry. Am I disturbing?" he asked after seeing my teary face.

"We're discussing something important. Please leave," Xavier said.

"No. Stay, Leroy." I stop him before he leaves. "There's nothing to talk about."

Then I walk out the door.