Autophobia

Unveil

And now he was brushing his teeth while Amelia was brushing her hair right next to him. Lately, they both have been doing things together. When he isn't home she is with John. When he is, she is with him from the minute he gets home to when he leaves for work the next day. It has been like that the past week.

She was looking herself over in the mirror. Her eyes were glossy and she hasn't said a word since they left work. And he had a feeling he knew exactly why.

"She was not supposed to tell you."

She gave him a sad smile. "It was a nice idea though." She spoke as if it was a loss of something dear to her. "I appreciate the thought but I'll get used to this."

He spat into the sink and rinsed his toothbrush. "You shouldn't give up like that."

"And what? You saw what happens first hand on the day you met me. It's not something I can get over in a day, hell, even a year." She yanked through a knot in her hair, wincing as she did. "I've tried before and it didn't end well."

He looked to her. "You have?"

She nodded. "I don't remember how long ago, but I left my previous home on my own to prove to my mother that she was wrong to hire a bodyguard for me. I don't know how far I made it but I was picked up by our neighbors. They found me face first in the middle of the road by my home that night. I kept passing out and falling over. Gave myself a concussion." She tossed her brush on the counter and gave him a teary smile. "I just can't seem to accept it yet."

Zane grabbed the brush and stepped behind her. She let him work through the knots she had, being more delicate than she was. Her hair was thick from the new shampoo and conditioner she was using. He admired how soft and long her hair was. As he teased the ends and started to put her hair in a messy braid he watched as she let out a long sigh, her shoulders relaxing and slouching down.

When he set the brush down he didn't move away. He admired his work. He hadn't done a braid in years and still remembered. When she turned to him she didn't move away either. It was a small moment. Their eyes gazed into each other's and a blush was on her cheeks, bringing a pink color to her skin.

He thought back to when he watched her bathe. It was not too long ago and the memory had him feeling warm. He had to be more careful to where his thoughts roamed. Zane couldn't deny that he was infatuated with her. He felt as if it may be something deeper but he was not going to let those feeling rise. He broke their gaze first to leave but she grabbed his shirt, turning him back to her. He caught her glancing down to his sweats.

"I noticed you never bring other women around."

The forwardness of her comment caught him off guard. "I'm not going to talk about my sex life with you."

"Why? Is it dead?"

"You can't comment since yours is nonexistent."

He immediately regretted the comment. It was not from anger or embarrassment. With the jab she threw at him he naturally returned one. Her cheeks turned from a soft pink to a deep red.

She yanked her hand away from his shirt and pointed a finger at his chest. "I am not a virgin!"

"Really?" Zane was now curious. He couldn't lie, he was a little jealous as well. Just thinking of laying with her had a tightness growing in his pants. He ignored it, hoping Amelia would to.

She bit her lip. "I've never been in a relationship with anyone but there was a guy, Jared. He would often visit with his father. While his father and Carter would get drunk me and him would spend time together," her voice tapered to a whisper, as if she did not want him to hear. She refused to look at him, playing with the braid he had done.

"Did he do anything?"

"No." She scratched the back of her head. "We both knew we couldn't be together, mostly because of my condition and that he lived in London. But me and him did... exploring."

"You're making it sound as if it was a bad thing?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "I'm just ashamed that I threw something valuable like that away at such a young age."

"Your virginity?"

She nodded. "When Carter was planning to marry me out he told me I would have to keep it to make sure I'm more valuable and not used."

This confession had Zane ticking his jaw. He stepped close to her and grabbed her chin, tilting her face up to his.

"You listen to me, Amelia," he pronounced her name with emphasis. "You not something that is 'used'. You are a person. You have feelings. You are special and not just from your appearance. You're fucking brave too. Not only did you talk back to me, you stood your ground and taught me what a fucking idiot I was. Do you know who I am? I'm a horrible person, I'm a bad person and you make me feel vulnerable and scared and it's fantastic. I feel human again. You're important, and not just to me but to John and others..."

He stopped there. Her eyes were wide and locked into his. He noticed how close they were now. He felt hot. His body felt like a spring tightening. Chills were going up and down his spine and it wasn't from nervousness. It was from how close she was, how she seemed to be almost leaning into him like he was with her.

She chewed her cheek. Her hands moved slowly up to his face, maybe trying to gage his reaction. He didn't move away and let her pull him down for a kiss. When their lips met he let out a groan. He moved forward until she was pinned between the edge of the counter and him. Which had him lifting her onto it. She kissed back shyly, but his lips were pressing firmly to hers. He let his lips explore hers. His senses were sensitive to her breathing, the rise and fall of her chest. When she let out a small moan he pulled away.

"Did you want that?"

"Yeah," she breathed out. Her lips pink and tender. "I think it's foolish that I want you."

He smiled sadly and nodded. "I don't blame you."

"Zane." She spoke quietly but she had an intense stare. Her knees pulled apart, letting him slip between them easily. Her hands were admiring his shoulders. He felt chills travel down his spine as her fingers traced his skin. "Can I have you, tonight?"

"Like sex?"

She smacked his chest. "Yes." Her shyness had him wanting to laugh but he made sure to bite his tongue. "But I don't want it rough."

"Oh Amelia, I'll give it to you however you want it." He leaned in close to her face again. "You tell me everything you want and I'll do it."