Tangled in Vows (Tangled & Torn #2)

32. Olivia

Chapter 32

Olivia

I’ve never felt lonelier, no idea what to do.

T he hope in his eyes is what does me in. We immediately disappeared into a thick cloud of lust after his confession, both of us happy to escape reality for a while, but I haven’t forgotten how much it cost him to finally tell me what happened. The image of him on his knees, utterly devastated, will forever be burned into my memory.

Now, everything has changed, including all the rules. I’m pretty sure we’re not even playing the same game anymore.

Regardless, though, it’s my turn.

How could I not give him a piece of myself after he just offered me his soul on a platter?

Despite that, it’s still hard to spill the truth. “You know that opening up doesn’t come naturally or easily to me, but I want to try. I want to try for you.”

“And that’s all I can ask for.”

“What you . . . what you did. It’s a lot to process, but I want to talk more about it when I’m ready. If you’re okay with that.” I brush his face, my hands itching to touch him. “For now, I want to say thank you for protecting me.”

“You don’t have to thank me for that. I promised I’d keep you safe, and I still intend to do whatever it takes to keep that promise.”

“Thank you,” I say again, needing him to understand I am, on some level, in fact, grateful he killed for me. Maybe that makes me immoral too, but he got rid of one of my nightmares for me, and I’ll never be able to repay him for the freedom that gives me.

I shift and press my lips against his, reveling in how his touch brings me a sort of comfort I didn’t know existed. Once. Twice. Three times. Whispering “thank you” between each kiss.

He was my safe space before, but this added intimacy has taken it to a different level. Every time we’re together, the whole world disappears. It’s peaceful. He’s my serenity.

At first, the kiss is lazy, our lips gently brushing against one another, our tongues joining. The heat in my stomach intensifies with each stroke until the burning gets so strong that I squirm.

He pushes me on my back and blankets me with his body, his cock hot and hard at my leg, driving my desire for him even higher.

As I dig my nails into his back, our conversation pauses—set aside for later—because right now, I’m burning up for this man. Something raw and primal pulses beneath my skin, transforming into an emptiness only he can fill. “Holden.”

“What is it, baby?”

That nickname. Hurricane is already enough to break past my barriers, but now baby too? It’s enough to turn me into putty.

Unable to keep the smirk at bay, I let my lips tilt. “I still remember my name.”

His reaction is immediate, like he was just waiting to return to business, probably happy to escape reality for a little longer too. “Well, we can’t have that, can we?”

I barely manage to shake my head before he sucks on the sensitive skin of my neck, then my ear. Who knew ears could be this responsive? The resonating buzz in my clit is definitely proof of it.

Remembering his earlier words that he wants to hear if I enjoy something, I let the quiet moan slip out of my mouth and allow myself to just feel. To feel this sexy man sliding over my body with his hot skin on mine. His large hands leave a trail of fire behind everywhere he touches, especially when he squeezes my flesh, as though he loves every single ounce on my bones.

His teeth gently bite one of my nipples, and I gasp.

“Do that again.”

He obeys. Of course he does. Giving me pleasure seems to bring him pleasure, which makes every second with him even more electrifying.

Until now, I haven’t realized what a big difference that makes. The couple of guys I was with were chasing their pleasure first and foremost. No one has ever spent this much time on me and my body.

Holden reaches the apex of my thighs where he parts my legs and gives me one languid, long lick. I bow off the bed, chasing his tongue.

He chuckles. “So greedy. I love it.”

His warm breath fans over my sensitive flesh, and I pout when he sits back on his heels and stares at me. After a moment, his focus shifts to his lap, where his hand is fisting his dick. His cock is thick and long, and I want to touch it. Taste it. But since I’ve never done it before, it feels awkward to ask. Awkward to imagine.

Especially with the piercing at the tip. It only adds to the unknown of what’s to come, with an added spike of worry. It glints in the light, and I watch Holden in rapt fascination as he wraps his fingers around his shaft and strokes himself several times. A bead of precum glistens at the top, and I bite the corner of my lip.

His movements stop, his fingers shifting to his piercing, taking the small beads on both sides between his fingers.

“What are you doing?” The words are barely out of my mouth when he draws out the bar, screwing the ball back on the side.

He places the jewelry on the bedside table and gets a condom out of the drawer. Still no response. He puts it on and climbs back up my body.

Hovering above me, he caresses my face gently. “I’m not taking any chances with you.”

He lines his cock up with my entrance.

“The first time I’m fucking you.”

His big head slowly sinks inside.

“I won’t chance hurting you or making you uncomfortable.”

Another inch disappears inside me, and I gasp loudly.

“Once you’ve gotten used to coming on my bare cock, we can add it back.”

His pelvis meets mine, and we both breathe heavily.

“And if you like it, I’ll add an entire row of piercings. Anything for you.”

My lips fall open on a quiet exhale.

He nudges my nose with his. “How are you doing, gorgeous?”

I wiggle around, getting used to feeling so full. That’s all I can think about, being filled by him in the purest, most natural way. Now, he’s truly occupying my mind and body.

This also already feels a million times better than any other time before. “I’m good.”

He pulls out and pushes back in slowly. “How about now?”

I swallow and nod. “Again.”

Apparently, he was waiting for my okay because he easily slides in and out. Thank goodness he doesn’t stop again because this feels so damn good. His movements pick up, becoming more urgent, his thrusts harder than before, and I moan.

“Do you like to be fucked hard, Hurricane?”

He lifts my legs, so I can wrap them around his back and slams his pelvis hard against mine, as if to prove a point, eliciting another moan from my throat.

“It feels . . .” I’m distracted when he shifts us effortlessly, sitting back on his heels and tugging me up to straddle him. “Holy shit.”

He bounces me up and down his cock while simultaneously thrusting up into me, causing my wet hair to fall around us in a curtain. I grab his shoulders and hold on for dear life. My breasts bounce between us, catching Holden’s attention.

The sight of him so awestruck and turned on shifts something in me. A craving to be seen, to be consumed by him, to utterly lose myself in how he makes me feel whole. And sexy.

He continues to watch me openly, with nothing but pure desire in his eyes, giving me the confidence to link my hands behind his neck and lean back as far as I can to offer him an even better view of my chest.

He growls his approval. “Those fucking tits will be the end of me. Right alongside your pussy.”

His words drive my desire even higher, and I grind all over him. Bounce. Writhe.

“Shit, baby. I’m not going to last long this way.” He repositions me on his lap, only keeping one hand on my ass, the other one now busy with my breasts. Massaging. Squeezing. Pinching my nipples. “Ride my cock, baby. Rub yourself on me and come all over me like a good girl. I want your cum dripping down my balls.”

I was already close before he opened his mouth. Add his dirty talk, and I’m a goner. Every nerve in my body sings, igniting a fire deep within my core that burns hotter than I thought possible. Waves of pleasure ripple through me, cresting and crashing, until I scream his name.

His grip on my hips is so tight, I know it’s going to leave marks. He doesn’t let up, pumping into me until his entire expression tightens and he stills.

“Fuck, baby. Damn it. I’ve never come so hard in my life.”

We collapse to the mattress, both of us breathless and trembling. Satisfied.

As time melts away, we slowly come back to reality. I nestle closer into his warm cocoon, my lips forming a contented smile.

I stare at the man who braced my fall by caging me in with his strong arms. My protector in so many more ways than I knew was possible.

He moves back, and I complain.

“I just need to get rid of the condom. I’m going to be right back.”

And he is, just as promised. After I take a quick turn in the bathroom, I slide back into bed and snuggle against Holden’s chest. He pulls the duvet over us, and I close my eyes and sigh in contentment.

“What’s your name, baby?”

The amusement is evident in his voice, and I snicker.

“Mmm. Give me a second. I know the answer. Cloud?”

He snorts. “No.”

“Olive?”

“Close.”

“Tornado?”

“Sorry, but no.”

I hum, drawing lazy circles on his pec with my fingers. “Then I’m afraid I can’t remember, sorry.”

“Good girl.”

I melt into his praise and embrace, and we’re quiet for a few minutes. We are lost in our own worlds, processing everything that happened. Mountains of questions pile up, with plenty of regrets and grief along the way.

Holden is the first to speak. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.”

The familiar ache in my chest is back. It is a lot duller this time but still present. It’ll probably be a while before it eases. I wish we could say sorry and forget everything, that all of our feelings would disappear into nothingness, but it barely ever happens that way. Instead, those feelings shrink into manageable sizes that are easier to tuck away.

“Why didn’t you?”