continued from here ( @evcrmre )
Jamie's breath got stuck in his throat, just for a second, the weight of Amara's confession settling between them like a live wire. He let the silence stretch, feeling the thrum of his heartbeat against his ribs, every nerve in his body suddenly tuned to the way she was still looking at him. Not moving, nor pulling back. Her words said one thing, but everything else? It was screaming something different. His gaze dropped to her mouth for just a split second before finding her eyes again. "You keep saying that, but you’re still standing right here." He took a slow step forward, closing that small sliver of space between them. Close enough to feel the warmth radiating off her, close enough to make her breath hitch. "And I'm not asking for promises," he continued, voice steady, but thick with something he couldn't quite name. "I'm just asking for honesty. You feel it... I feel it. Maybe it's wrong. Hell, maybe it's a mistake. But I'm not gonna pretend it's not there." His hand flexed at his side like he was holding himself back. "So, tell me... Do you want me to go?" The question lingered, heavy with the kind of tension that made it hard to breathe. His blue eyes stayed locked on Amara's, searching for the answer he knew she was probably too careful to say out loud. He could see it, the wariness, the hesitation, but beneath that, there was something deeper. Something that had been simmering for weeks. But then, he took a breath, a shaky exhale that broke the stillness. He ran a hand through his messy blond hair, stepping back just a fraction, enough to give her space to breathe. "Or," he started again, his tone softer but resolute, "We can forget I said anything. Get back to work. Focus on training... You know, what I'm actually supposed to be here for." He managed a small, almost self-deprecating grin. "You say the word, and we'll chalk this up to a lapse in judgment. Go back to normal." But even as he said it, his eyes lingered for a beat too long, voice carrying the weight of something unsaid. He meant it; he'd pull back if she wanted him to. But the question was... Did she?
