But before his fingertips could reach her, Ivy suddenly turned her head. “Move in, will you? I have no space here.”

Jamison’s brow twitched, and he snatched his hand back as if he’d been shocked, his handsome face flushing with embarrassment. He quickly scooted over to the far side of the bed.

Ivy had seen his hand, and her heart thudded even harder.

Once he’d made room, she forced herself to ignore the heat burning in her cheeks, turned away, and slipped under the thin blanket, careful not to look at him.

The spot he’d just vacated was still warm, carrying his scent.

It felt as if she were wrapped up in him, held close by something invisible.

Ivy tried to steady her breathing, but her mind was spinning, ears buzzing, her heartbeat racing out of control.

Jamison lay quietly beside her, the muscles in his neck shifting as he swallowed. The air was thick with the scent of him, sharp and masculine.

Truth be told, Ivy wasn’t the only one nervous.

He was hardly any better.

But someone would have to make the first move.

But how? Should he try to start a conversation, break the awkward tension?

Or just roll over and kiss her, let everything else fall away?

Jamison still hadn’t decided.

The silence stretched, growing heavier. Ivy was wound so tight she thought she might snap. The waiting felt like sitting in judgment; the longer it dragged on, the more unbearable it became.

Her palms were slick with sweat. All she could think was, let’s just get this over with–but the man beside her wasn’t making a move. Was he… asleep?

She grumbled inwardly, then, bracing herself, turned her head to check. He was lying perfectly still, eyes wide open.

As she looked over, Jamison turned his head, their gazes locking.

Chapter 431

“Why are you… just lying there? What are you waiting for?” Ivy was the first to break the silence, her voice a little too sharp.

Jamison nearly choked on his own breath, then coughed and rolled onto his side, a flush creeping up his face.

“I… I didn’t want you to feel nervous.”

Ivy didn’t answer. She just whispered, “Turn off the light.”

“Okay.”

The switch was on Ivy’s side, so Jamison had to crawl over, reaching across her to flick it off.

In the darkness, their bodies brushed–him above, her below.

As the room fell into inky blackness, Ivy squeezed her eyes shut, whispering to herself, Don’t think about anything. Trust him. He’s Jamison. He’s your husband.

His kiss found her in the dark–soft, careful, as if she were something precious.

Ivy’s breath grew ragged. She trembled as she let her lips part for him.

He was gentle. Patient.

Gradually, she began to relax. For a moment, she truly believed she could overcome her fear.

But then, as pain struck, old memories came crashing back in an instant.

She remembered rough hands pinning her down, the brute force ripping her legs apart.

She saw again those twisted, grinning faces, heard the wicked laughter.

She flashed back to the doctor in that small-town clinic, standing between her knees, tying her down with bedsheets under the pretense of an exam…

Suddenly, Ivy was shaking, her mind awash with a chaotic flood of voices and images.

She didn’t fight back–her mind knew that the man with her wasn’t some monster, that he was Jamison, her husband.

But her body, broken by trauma, wouldn’t listen. She froze, muscles so tight it felt like she might snap.

Jamison noticed instantly, his voice urgent and soft. “Ivy? Ivy?”

Chapter 431

She didn’t know when the tears had started, but as she heard the worry in his voice, she came back to herself. Lifting her arms, she clung to him, wrapping them tightly around his neck, holding on as if he were the only thing keeping her afloat.