30. Olivia
Chapter 30
Olivia
Who am I telling that my big dream is finally coming true?
F or a second, I’m worried he didn’t understand what I was asking for, or worse, he’d deny me.
But that doubt dissolves the second he pulls me closer by the neck and smashes his lips to mine.
The kiss unravels inside me—a wildfire, a burn that only intensifies the longer it rages. It starts low in my stomach and spreads outward until I’m lightheaded, spiraling into the kind of warmth I never want to escape from.
It’s so much more than just a kiss. The way his hands mold around my face like he’s afraid I might disappear if he doesn’t hold on to me. The way his tongue takes possession of mine, on the precipice of dying if it can’t have all of me right now.
But I shouldn’t be surprised because this is Holden, the man who never does anything half-hearted. He’s either all in or not doing it at all. And my body sings for him, needing to eradicate any distance between us.
My hands fist in his wet shirt, wanting it off so I can feel his skin.
Holden draws back. “Fuck, baby. One sec.”
This is not the first time baby has slipped out, and as before, the reverberating ache between my thighs intensifies.
Holden yanks the shirt over his head and tosses it aside, and I watch in rapt fascination. This man’s body is a work of art. It’s not unmarred, lined with scars from fights and other causes, but it only adds to his male beauty.
He doesn’t stop at his shirt, his hands landing on his belt to undo it. His zipper is next, and then his pants land in the same laundry basket as the other clothes.
My gaze drops to his tight boxers, and I don’t even pretend not to look. Not only is the outline of his dick huge, but I’m pretty sure there’s something attached to it.
Does he have a piercing?
My mouth falls open. “Wow.”
Yup, I just said that out loud.
Holden chuckles and gets down on one knee in front of me.
What the hell?
“Your turn, Hurricane.”
He grabs both sides of my leggings, his gaze finding mine in a silent request. I nod, and Holden drags them down, my socks alongside them. That leaves me in nothing but my panties and tank top.
As if he can’t help himself, he leans closer and presses his face against the small piece of fabric covering my pelvis.
Oh my God.
I suck in a breath, the slight contact setting fire to my libido.
“Holden, please.” My voice sounds whiny, but I don’t care. I need him to do something about this inferno inside my body.
Instead of taking care of that immediately as my body demands, he gets up and wraps a towel around his lower half before wrapping one around my body.
No, this better not be it. I’m tired of waiting, and after he demolished all those walls between us, I want this connection with him. I need it.
“Hold on to the towel. We don’t want to flash one of my men by accident. What’s underneath it is for my eyes only.” He almost growls the last part and picks me up bridal style.
Surprised, I squeal. “Put me down, I’m heavy.”
He scoffs, “Please, you’re a lightweight.”
I wiggle, but he only tightens his hold on me.
“But I’d appreciate a little help with the door, please.”
He shifts me around so I can reach the doorknob and maneuvers us through the tight space. Then it’s across the entrance area, up the stairs, and down the long hallway straight into Holden’s bedroom. He doesn’t stop until we’re in the large bathroom, where he sets me down on one of the soft rugs.
I stare at him and the fact he’s not even winded.
My eyes never stray from him, tracking everything. Every second of him stepping into the large walk-in shower, turning on the spray, checking the temperature, and returning to my side. I check him out the entire time. The way his muscles shift. How his tattoos move on his skin with every minuscule motion. Then there’s that towel-covered ass. Holy crap. It’s so round, so perfect, I want to bite it.
“The water is ready.”
His deep voice is closer than I thought, and my gaze snaps up to his.
The heat is still brewing in those light-brown irises, but now it’s accompanied by a frown. “I want nothing more than to taste every inch of your body right now, but we need to warm you up first. Those lips need their pretty pink shade back.”
I lift a hand to my lips, noticing how much my fingers shake. Now that he’s said it, a whole-body shiver takes over.
He tilts his head to the side, his gaze scanning the bathroom. “Or would you prefer a bath? I should have thought about that sooner. Maybe that would be better.”
Without waiting for an answer, he stomps to the oversized tub, but I stop him by the arm when he passes me.
“A shower is fine, promise. We weren’t outside that long.”
Although he doesn’t seem convinced, he nods. “Are you sure? If you still feel cold, you’ll soak in the tub, okay?”
“Yes, sir.”
His eyes flare, and a groan follows, and I bite my lip in response. Why is that so sexy?
He’s right, though. I am shivering, and I really should get under the warm spray. So I inhale a breath of courage, grab the hem of my top, and lift it over my head. I don’t miss the muttered curses or the way his dick twitches in his boxers. It serves as the final boost of confidence I need to lean forward, tug off my panties, and walk under the spray.
While I’m not a virgin, I’m not super experienced either. After what happened with Felix and his friends, sex wasn’t really on my to-do list. My career put other roadblocks in the way, so I only hooked up with two guys over the years. Unwilling to let my past experience ruin my chances of trying sex. Neither time was terrible, but they didn’t rock my world either. In retrospect, I could have done without either.
Considering the hungry expression in Holden’s gaze, I have a feeling he might change my outlook on sex. That everything will be different with him. So far, I’ve already felt more aroused than I have ever before with a man.
The warm water hits my skin, and I sigh in relief. The initial sting dissipates quickly, and I tilt my head back to rinse my face and hair. I feel his presence behind me before I see or hear him. I’m worried about being so exposed, but then his voice filters through the noise.
“You’re even more beautiful than I imagined you’d be. And so fucking sexy.”
I open my eyes and spin around.
Without his boxers, he’s even more glorious. His hard cock standing proud, and the metal at the tip glinting in the light.
I was right; he’s pierced.
“Holy shit.” Saliva collects in my mouth, and I swallow, unsure what to make of that discovery. Should I be excited because it’s something new and kind of badass, or should I be concerned I won’t enjoy it, or that it might even hurt? Although, according to my romance novels, it’s epic.
Holden takes a step toward me, and his thick erection bobs with the movement.
And yup, I’m still staring.
I watch his long fingers wrap around his length to give it a firm squeeze and tug. Absolutely mesmerized. I always thought they were exaggerating in books. Surely a penis can’t be more than a tool to be used for its designated purpose. One glance at Holden’s cock though, and I might turn into a believer. Because it is beautiful.
“Are you feeling better?”
His question catches me off guard because am I feeling better? I know he’s talking about my body warming up, which it thankfully has, but I think I’m feeling better overall.
Definitely flushed.
And you’re okay with everything he told you?
There’s a shitload of emotions and thoughts I need to sort through because, yes, this man has confessed to killing my past nightmare for me. I have a million questions for him and things we need to discuss, but for now, I know what I need to know. This man has always had my best interests at heart, maybe even too much. Putting my needs above his own, as if I matter more.
You don’t think you should be appalled and never want to see him again?
Maybe I should be, but I’m not. There are no ill feelings toward what he confessed.
He went to prison to protect me. How could I ever be mad about that or hold that against him?
I don’t answer his question. Instead, I close the distance between us and kiss this beautiful mountain of a man.
Our lips fuse, our tongues dance, and his arms hold me as though he never wants to let me go. He tastes like hope, absolution, and transformation—a new start. A life I thought was long lost.
Eventually, Holden pulls back, and I gasp for air.
For a heartbeat, I worry he’s stopping. But then his lips trace a slow, deliberate path along my jawline, tilting my head to the side for better access. His teeth scrape over the soft flesh of my earlobe before his mouth finds the sensitive spot right under it, descending my neck until my breath catches in my throat. When he reaches my collarbone, he pauses, the heat of his breath teasing my skin until my pulse spins out of control. His next kiss is a slow caress, barely there, so reverent I feel it deep behind my sternum.
“Tell me you want this.” His tongue flicks slowly over my skin. “Tell me I can fuck you the way I’ve dreamed about so many times.” He grabs both of my breasts and massages them.
I moan.
He takes one puckered nipple into his mouth and sucks hard.
My clit tingles, ready to burst into a million pieces.
I push my hands into his hair, and he stills, staring up at me. Waiting to see what I do next. What my response will be.
Slight embarrassment has me wanting to draw back, but I keep my gaze locked with his. “I want you to show me that all those romance authors weren’t lying, and sex can be so absolutely mind-blowing and so life-altering that I’ll forget my name.”