Jamison was at his limit, but he couldn’t just stop now.
He held Ivy tightly, his broad hand gently soothing her hair. “It’s okay, it’s over now,” he murmured. “Don’t be afraid… I’m here. I won’t let anything hurt you.”
Even as he spoke, he carefully pulled down her nightgown, helping her straighten it out–anything to give her a little comfort, a sense of safety.
Ivy’s quiet sobs trembled in the dark. The pain in her body hadn’t faded, but those awful memories were starting to slip away. Her grip on Jamison’s arm loosened ever so slightly.
He noticed. His own body eased, and he hovered protectively above her, not quite touching, just making sure she felt his presence.
He buried his face into the curve of her shoulder, his breath coming in sharp, heavy bursts–each exhale warm against her neck, each inhale carrying a heady, masculine scent that filled her ears and made half her body tingle and go numb.
“I’m sorry… I thought I could do it…” Her voice was rough with shame and apology.
Jamison’s reply was gentle, his tone low and soothing. “It’s all right. Honestly, this is progress compared to before.”
He’d already surrendered, though Ivy was too wrapped up in her nightmare to notice. Maybe that was for the best–it spared his pride. Otherwise, Ivy might have thought there was something wrong with him, some secret reason he’d rushed her into this sudden marriage.
They stayed locked in each other’s arms for a long, quiet moment, until Ivy’s shaking finally calmed.
She turned to look at his handsome, chiseled face, half–shadowed in the gloom, and whispered with a cracked voice, “Should we… try again?”
Jamison looked at her, genuinely surprised, lifting his head a little. His eyes had adjusted to the darkness, and he could just make out the shimmer of tears clinging
to her lashes.
She was absurdly adorable, even now. After all this, she still wanted to try–was he really coming across as that desperate? Did she think he couldn’t wait?
He smiled, masking his embarrassment, and leaned in to kiss her gently. “No need for that tonight. Get some rest, okay? I’m just going to the bathroom.”
1/2
07:32
Chapter 432
Ivy didn’t answer. As he got up, she drew her arms back and lay still.
Jamison slipped out of bed and disappeared into the bathroom. Ivy watched his silhouette retreat through the dim haze. Even in the low light, she could see the strength in his frame, the way he moved with such an easy confidence. He made her feel safe.
She turned away, guilt and shame churning in her chest, and sighed to herself. Maybe it was time to see a therapist–someone who could help her work through this.
A few minutes later, Jamison returned.
Ivy hadn’t moved an inch since he left. On the outside, she was perfectly still, but her mind was racing.
The mattress dipped as Jamison lay back down. He was still damp and cool from the water, and when he slipped under the covers, the chill of his skin brushed against her. The sensation startled her, making her whole body tense, every hair standing on end.
He noticed, of course, and kept his distance. They lay there side by side, straight as two lines that would never meet.
But now that she’d calmed down, Ivy couldn’t stop replaying everything that had happened. She wanted to believe it was just the psychological scars holding her back, but the pain had been real, too.
She’d read about it before–on forums, in romance DaisyNovel–those exaggerated descriptions: pain like being torn in two, like being split open, like her waist was being crushed by a truck, her limbs pulled apart and put back together…
She’d thought she was prepared, but nothing had really readied her for this.
Was it something physical? Maybe endometriosis, or some other inflammation? Was that why it hurt so much? The questions swirled in her mind, leaving her restless and uncertain.