Amelia POV

Breathing deeply, Amelia ran her hands down her crimson gown. This Milanese one clung to her contours like a devoted lover. Valentine's Day was this year's B&S theme because it fell so close to the real holiday, and Amelia felt the outfit went well with the theme. She knew she looked good, but even though it was sleek and glittering, she was still apprehensive. It had been years since she had attended a B&S ball with Smith , and now she was back, seeing Smith at one of these events.

It wasn't a case of history being repeated. As much as Amelia would, she could go back and alter how things had worked out the first time. It was impossible. Nobody was granted a second chance. No one was given a second opportunity to make a mistake.

"Will you be attending?" Avery prodded Amelia's shoulder in question.

Amelia gave her a grin. "Yes, I'm just taking in the scenery."

Laughing, Avery put her arm through Amelia's. The tuxedo-clad man looked great, and Amelia only had eyes for him, so maybe that helped make the view fairly pleasant.

Avery waved her little clutch purse before her face and said, "Phew." "Is this place getting hotter?"

"Stop it," Amelia gently nudged her back in response. "We are merely friends."

Avery gave an eye roll. She pushed Amelia toward Smith and urged, "Keep telling yourself that." "I wish I had friends that gave me that stare."

Avery tossed her black wavy hair over her shoulder and straightened her pale pink strapless dress. Glistening in the fairy lights, her dark skin vanished into the crowd. After inhaling once again, Amelia observed Smith approaching her with confidence. His eyes swept over her with gratitude as a grin tickled the corner of his mouth.

"I appreciate your attire," he whispered, his breath warm on her ear as he bent to give her a friendly peck on the cheek.

"You don't seem too awful yourself," she said, raising her eyebrows.

"May I fetch you a beverage?"

She said, "God, yes," feeling glad he would make things simple for them both. They would be far more successful in regaining their balance if they had a little liquid courage.

Taking her hand in his, he guided her past the crowd and toward the temporary bar. The two local pubs put up a bar at opposite ends of the enormous community hall, which was used for the B&S ball. A portion of the ticket and alcohol sales revenue would be donated to the rural firefighters in the area. Given their amazing work for the community, it was a cause worth supporting.

"What do you have in your drink?" Smith questioned, glancing over his shoulder to see her.

"A beer should be plenty."

She shrugged, and he raised an eyebrow. Although she hadn't drunk beer in the past, her preferences had grown and evolved.

After getting them both a beer, Smith guided her through the crowd to a relatively quiet area, though that was debatable. To be heard, they still had to shout over the band and the crowd commotion.

Curious, he tipped his drink and added, "Tell me about Europe."

She said, taking a drink of her beer, "It was amazing." "It's beyond my expectations and incredibly lovely."

He flushed as he continued, "It looked amazing."

"You have my Instagram following?"

He shrugged, and although it shouldn't have made her feel so wonderful, his interest in her life did.

"Taking a lousy picture over there is difficult. The building's architecture is amazing. The food—oh my God—and the artwork are both fantastic. I felt as though I was in paradise.

Her stomach turned around as he grinned. She would have laughed in their face a week ago if someone had told her that she would be sitting with Smith , enjoying a drink, and discussing her adventures in Europe as if they were best friends. But now that I was doing it, it felt appropriate. Alright. Perfect.

As their conversation continued, she inquired about his job in the mines and his plans now that his contract had expired. Though it didn't matter, she was relieved that he would live in the same city and wouldn't be separated by distance.

Smith helped her stand up by taking her empty beer bottle. "Lead the dance with me."

She nodded, following him onto the crowded dance floor as the drink finally took its toll and made her feel more at ease. It wasn't a slow song playing as he drew her into his arms, but she went readily. It seemed like the first time they had danced together as he held her close, their bodies swaying and moving in time to the music.

Smith was unable to keep her near enough. He desired to experience her entire body pressing against his. Despite Mia and Willison's disapproval, he was more infatuated with Amelia than anything else. He didn't think he had wanted her as much, even while they had been together.

Even if the physical aspect was incredible, it was more than that. He had sensed her transformation from the moment he first saw her at the airport; he had just failed to see how endearing that transformation was.

Though he had loved Amelia for years, watching her blossom into a more confident version of herself who didn't base her actions on what other people thought of her was incredibly enticing. He had always known, even during their separation, that it was inside her. All he could do was express gratitude for having seen the proof.

The smooth material of her dress gilded under his palms as his cock solidified behind his fly. Who did he think he was kidding? As soon as he saw her get out of her car wearing that outfit, he was as hard as a rock. He didn't even care if she felt it, but his luscious body against hers turned rock into steel. She could barely miss it, the way she was grinding against him.

The more obstinate part of Smith was shouting down the reasonable amount of him, which recognized that the wise course of action would be to stand back and consider what they were doing. His dick wasn't afraid to express his desires since he knew how nice it would feel to get to know all of Amelia's private parts again.

Her blue eyes turned wild and dark as she looked up at him, biting her bottom lip tightly. With a deep growl in his throat, he dropped his head, pulled a lip into his lips, and planted a kiss on her.

Fuck it. He was disoriented. He didn't care what happened next as long as he could keep kissing her since he was so fucking lost in her. He detected the familiar strawberry flavour of her lip gloss and the taste of alcohol on her tongue. Beer and strawberry lip gloss together should be repulsive, yet on her, and it was ideal and an irresistible aphrodisiac.

Her fingers twisted into his too-long hair as her hands glided over his shoulders. His hands moved slowly down her back, with his thumbs hovering over her ribs and breasts before resting on her waist. He cherished how she tasted on his tongue and felt beneath his hands. He had forgotten for a brief while that she was meant to be his. She was ideal for him, with him, and for her, but he had let life get in the way and forgotten this. The two of them were happy until it all went south. He never questioned his desire to be with her for the rest of his life. The fact that he had never experienced even the slightest anxiety added tragically to his lack of faith in her. The past nine months would not have occurred if it weren't for that one bad choice. They would never have wounded one another. They wouldn't be battling to get back to one another.

She let out a sigh and broke the kiss, struggling to breathe. "How is it possible that just one kiss can still make me melt into mush?"

"Because we're not done, Amelia," he said softly as he nibbled her throat. "We're still far from finished."

He gave her neck a quick nibble, then licked it tenderly. Her skin was delicious, my god. He was like a starving guy who smelled food for the first time, and his appetite surged out of control.

He stroked her nose and murmured, "Let's get out of here," planting a second, passionate kiss on her lips. "I'll take you home,"

With a sigh, she cocked her head to the side and extended her neck towards him. An engraved invitation was not necessary for him. With his hands sliding up her waist, across her ribs, and stopping beneath her arms, he bent his head and bit her neck, his thumbs making circles on the delicate flesh on the side of her breasts. As her nipples brushed against his chest, he could feel their hard points, and he was longing to pop one into his mouth. Even though he struggled to maintain legality, he kept his composure because he wanted their reunion somewhere far more intimate than the centre of the dance floor. Not that they had any observers. The rowdy group was too preoccupied with trying to get their hookups.

She muttered into his ear, "Take me to that barn where we went the first time." Are you able to recall?

"How could I forget?" he said, kissing her before yanking her through the crowd toward his truck and the doors.

Smith did not even attempt to notify Mia or Willison about his impending departure. Willison informed him that he was going to hook up with Mia Anyhow, and Mia, well, Mia kept assuring him that she was old enough to take care of herself, so he would. His brain could only process the knowledge that he would see Amelia in her undies at least once more; otherwise, he would have nothing but eyes for her. All he needed to do then was ensure it wasn't the final time.

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