Crowned by the Man They Feared (Amelia and Jeremy) novel Chapter 648

The car was quiet, and Amelia leaned against the passenger seat, watching Jeremy's profile as he focused on the road.

His jawline was sharp and clean, his nose high, and under the passing streetlights, his long lashes cast small shadows over his eyelids. He looked undeniably sexy.

She thought of the way he'd smiled before they left, of that soft "Okay, I'll go with you," and the warm, indulgent kiss he'd pressed to her forehead, and her heartbeat started racing all over again.

These past weeks, they'd weathered storm after storm together, from being framed to exposing traitors to chasing down her father's hidden secret.

Fighting side by side like that had only pulled them closer, their lives and emotions woven together tighter than ever.

"What are you thinking about?" Jeremy's low, pleasant voice cut into her thoughts.

He freed one hand from the steering wheel and covered the back of her hand resting on her thigh, his fingers cool but steady and reassuring.

Amelia snapped back to herself, the tips of her ears going hot. She turned her gaze toward the window a little too quickly. "Nothing much. Just wondering what exactly is buried under that tree."

Jeremy chuckled softly, clearly aware of her little dodge but kind enough not to call her out.

His grip on her hand tightened, his thumb slowly stroking over her smooth skin, his eyes darkening with heat.

"Look at the moon tonight. Once we grab the thing and get back to the villa ..."

He dragged out his words suggestively. He glanced at her, watching her ears turn a deep shade of crimson. "Maybe we can have a very special ‘two-person workout' to loosen up those tense nerves."

The playful lilt at the end made the words sound even more suggestive.

Amelia's heart gave a hard thump as flashes of their past nights together flooded her mind, sending a wave of heat through her whole body.

She shot him a mock glare that had no real bite. "Do you ever think about anything else at a time like this?"

"If I didn't, I'd be failing my duties as a man," he said breezily.

Amelia glared at him again and reached over to pinch his cheek.

Little shows of affection like that had become part of their daily routine.

Time slipped by faster than she realized, and soon they pulled up in front of the seaside villa.

Guided by the clue Raymond had left, they quickly found the big tree where the item was supposed to be buried.

Jeremy crouched down, brushed aside the loose soil with his fingers, and soon touched something cold and solid.

He gave Amelia a look, and together they dug out a half-worn metal box.

The box was locked, the metal of the lock rusted, but under the moonlight, she could still see how finely crafted it once was.

Jeremy fished a hairpin out of his pocket—the same one Amelia had casually left in his car before—and made quick work of the lock with a few deft twists.

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