by Allie Faye
“I’ll be fine,” he growls. “You should probably just go to bed,” he says and goes to the kitchen.
“What!? I can’t go to bed right now. Are you mad at me?” I follow him.
I wish Bailey and Wren were here.
Holden takes a bottle of vodka from the freezer and pours some over his hand then starts drinking straight from the bottle.
I go to my knees in front of him and hug his waist. My face comes to his crotch and he tilts my chin up. “I’m not mad at you. Don’t worry about me. I just need to be alone right now. I’m fired up and don’t want to take shit out on you.” He bends down and presses his lips to mine but there is no emotion behind it.
“Okay,” I whisper, holding my fingers to my lips unsure of what tomorrow will bring. Holden steps around me and goes out the door and down the stairs to his shop.
Everything inside me screams for me to go after him, but I don’t want to push him away. Right now though, I feel abandoned by him.
Chapter 29
Conleigh
It’s late when I feel Holden’s arms go around me and carry me to bed. I am barely coherent when he undresses me and slips into bed next to me. His hands glide along my body and his lips spread a trail of fire down my neck and across my chest. My eyes pop open when his lips latch onto my nipple and his fingers move between my legs.
When I go to touch him, he holds my hand above my head. “Stay still. I owe you an apology. Let me say sorry in my own way,” his voice grates in my ear.
I can’t speak. Emotion is bubbled in my throat so I simply nod and enjoy his lavish affection.
His magical fingers work my pussy, teasing and stretching me. Hot and sticky, his breath blows over my clit. My own fingers run up and down my torso and pinch my nipples.
He grabs my hands. “Stop, baby, be still. Told you I’m pleasing you.” He means what he says. He doesn’t start touching me again until I lay my hands at my sides.
Holden’s hands and mouth are everywhere or at least that is how it feels as the erotic sensations wrack my body as he continues his torturous exploration of my body.
My thighs press tighter against his head as I fight the urge to scrape my nails across his shoulders. His heavy breath and wiry whiskers rub against my heated flesh. He’s trying to kill me by way of sexual bliss. His eyes glance up focusing on mine and he holds my gaze. “I love you and only you, baby. Don’t ever doubt me. I saw the worry on your face when he said that shit, but you belong to me. My heart is yours no one else’s.”
I turn to molten liquid at his words and his fevered touch. Holden crawls up my body and seals his declaration with a kiss. My taste on his tongue drives me wild.
With sweet deep strokes, his tongue plunges deeper in my mouth. God, I want him inside me so bad right now, but he holds off giving me that. The tip of his cock presses against my entrance and I thrust up, arching my hips up off the bed, begging him to inch in, but he refrains.
“Make love to me, baby,” I am practically begging.
My plea goes ignored as his lips suck on my collarbone. Those skillful fingers work their way between my legs and he rubs my clit. I am so wet I know I am ruining the sheets. I don’t think I have ever been more turned on. I can’t refrain from touching him. My nails scratch down his back, digging into the muscles of his ass, pulling his body into mine.
“Please, Holden.”
“Not yet. My baby has a greedy pussy.” He laughs into my neck and slips two fingers inside. His other hand spans the left side of my ribcage. “I’m going to own every fucking inch of you,” he promises.
My clit is being rolled between his torturous fingers as he feathers kisses across my chest, taking his time to taste every centimeter of my sweaty skin. My body trembles beneath him as he continues his ascent. I thrash my legs, but he continues on his path until that hot mouth reaches my clit. His mouth suctions over my pulsing bundle of nerves and he sucks and nips the delicate skin, grazing me with his teeth.
“Fuck, Holden, I can’t take it. I need you in me, now,” I demand.
“You want this?” He teases, rocking back on his calves and holding his cock like a weapon that is set on destroying me.
“I need it,” I swear.
He grins lazily at me, my juices coating his lips and glistening on his beard.
“Roll over,” he instructs, and I do.
With my cheek pressed to the pillow, I stick my ass in the air and wait. The anticipation of our bodies joining is almost too much to bear.
Goosebumps pebble across my body when I feel his weight press down on me. His fingers run along my crack, to my front and up my stomach, stopping at my breast. He palms my tit and squeezes it.
“I love you,” he says, his breath hot on my neck sending a shiver coursing down the middle of my spine.
The thick head of his cock brushes along my slit, rubbing back and forth, up and down, teasing me still. Finally, with one hand on my hip to keep me still, he gives me what I want. Pushing into me, slowly, almost with surgical precision. I whimper as his thick cock slides deep within my walls, squeezing him with my muscles, loving the full sensation of being filled by him.
His lips pepper down my back, raining kisses on me. His hands roam over the curve of my butt. “You’re so beautiful, baby.” He pulls out and thrusts back in deep and hard. He comes at me harder and faster, hammering me into the mattress.
His fingers circle my clit, rubbing me so tenderly as he pumps in and out at a more leisurely pace.
“Oh, god,” I cry out, so damn close to my orgasm detonating. I am so primed and more than ready to feel his release, to feel him come with me.
His teeth rake across my shoulder. Then he cries out in what sounds like a battle cry of victory and we are coming together.
He collapses next to me in a sweaty, exhausted, but sated heap. His fingers brush through my hair, removing the strands that are stuck to my forehead.
I smile sheepishly at him. “I love you, Holden.”
“I know, baby, I know,” he says smiling back at me as my eyelids flutter.
————
It’s late in the day when I awaken. Holden’s side of the bed is empty all but a note on his pillow.
Baby,
Gone to the bar. Sleep in and get some rest. I feel like the luckiest man alive to call you mine. I promise you I will make you so damn happy. You will never go a day without knowing how much I love you and what you mean to me. You’re the sun in my sky, my own personal ray of sunshine on the cloudiest of days. But with you by my side, I know there are only great days ahead. I know things have moved fast and they haven’t been easy, but never doubt that I love you and that you are the only woman I will ever have eyes for.
All my love,
Holden
Clutching his letter to my bare chest I smile wide. He does love me, I know it.
I grab one of his t-shirts from the nearby chair and slip it over my head and pad down the hall to the bathroom. I brush my teeth diligently and take a quick shower after relieving my full bladder. Taking my time, I get myself fixed up to go see Holden at the bar. I miss him desperately already. Just as I am getting ready to leave Ezra shows up to get his things.
I go into the kitchen and send Holden a text. I am sure he would have told me if he knew Ezra would be here. There is a butterfly bandage on his nose and his eyes are black and blue with hints of purple shading. I wince taking in his beaten appearance. I would hate to see what Holden would have done to him had I told him he smacked me.
Surprisingly, Ezra doesn’t have any rude remarks. He simply says, “I won’t be long. I just came for what’s mine.”
I merely nod, unsure of whether I should stay or go. Finally, I decide on staying, if only to make sure he doesn’t do anything stupid. I settle on the couch and pull up my email. I have a letter from my dad.
Caterpillar,
I have great news. I met with the parole board and they have granted me an early release. I can’t tell you how ha
ppy I am to be given this second chance. I hope that this message finds you well and that when I get settled in at Beth’s in two weeks you will visit with me. I am going to live with her and she has agreed to give me a job doing maintenance around her shop and at an apartment building she owns. I plan to marry her and hope that you will attend the ceremony. I love her. She’s a wonderful woman who sees the good in me just as you always have. I am enclosing her address and telephone number so you know how to reach me.
I love you and hope to see you soon,
Dad.
I close out his message with a smile on my face and move to the next message in my inbox.
I have a new message from the publisher, they have come back with a counter offer and I jump up out of my seat without sparing a second glance at Ezra. I have to show this to Holden. I have to share my good news with him.
As I am driving to the bar I get a call from Wren and Bailey.
Chapter 30
Holden
I feel like a new man today. I have the love of my life at home in my bed and my brother should be here soon. We are having the papers drawn up to make him my business partner. I spoke with my attorney and he assured me that Reese has received the divorce papers and he is awaiting her signature to get this put behind me. I only wish I hadn’t waited so long. I’m ready to move forward and build a life with Conleigh. I’m doing this with Wren in hopes of securing a better life for her. I want her to pursue her writing and not worry about her car payments or asking her mom for help. She doesn’t need anyone, she has me.
“Hey, Missy. Glad to see you back. How’s that princess doing?”
“She’s great. Thanks, Holden. I wanted to tell you that I really like Conleigh. She seems like a real good girl. I hope you hang onto her and ya know…just treat her right.”
I chuckle and smile. “Yeah, I plan on it. Thanks. She really likes you too.”
Business is picking up and she gets right to it, taking orders and serving drinks.
I have a good feeling that things are only going to continue to improve. Nothing can hold me down, at least that is how I feel until Reese comes strutting through the bar with mascara streaked eyes. I groan inwardly as my nostrils flare.
Why is she here? Can’t she get it through her head that I am done with her and have been for years. I shake my head as she stands before me looking pathetic. Her hands are shaking as she grips the divorce papers between her fingers.
“Can we talk, in private?”
“My office,” I tell her turning my back to her and not bothering to check if she is following behind me. I know she is. Her desperation is like a damn rain cloud hovering over my head.
I take a seat behind the desk and tell her to have a seat. She opts to sit on the edge of my desk.
“Get up and sit your ass in the chair if you want me to talk to you. I’m not playing games here, Reese.”
She pouts her red painted lips and has the nerve to appear wounded. “Fine.” She slams the papers down on the desk. “I’m not signing these until we settle a few things.”
“There is nothing to say. I’ve moved on and for years you did whatever in the hell you wanted. You’re a selfish bitch who only thinks of herself. So, what is it? You want money? Because, I don’t have any.”
Reese gets in my face. “I only want you. I said I was sorry. I made a mistake. I know you forgave Wren. So, why not me? You loved me once. I know you can love me again.” She grabs my hand and presses it between her breasts. I can feel her erratic heartbeat. “Let me show you.” I jerk my hand away.
“Don’t. It isn’t happening.”
“Come on, Hold. You know you want me. I can see it in your eyes. One last time then for old times’ sake. It can be like it used to be. You can fuck me any way you want right here on your desk.”
“What I want is for you to sign the goddamned papers and get out of my life.”
She ignores me, sliding the strap of her shirt down and exposing her breast. She cups her tit, bends her head down, and licks her nipple.
“You’re seriously pathetic.”
“Not as pathetic as you’re going to feel when you go home and find your girl gone. I saw Ezra and her loading a moving van before I came here. I went to the apartment to find you and well, I found them embracing.” She smirks as I frown.
“I don’t believe you.”
She licks her bottom lip. “Why would I lie to you?” She attempts to straddle me in the chair and the only thing stopping me from shoving her onto her ass is the thought that she will hit her head on the sharp corner of the desk. “See, you knew deep down that she was going to go back to him.” She moves in to kiss me and I stand up, dropping her to her feet.
“I told you to stop. All you are doing is embarrassing yourself. Sign the papers, Reese.”
“No. We belong together.” She steps into my personal space and leans up on her tiptoes. I look into her eyes and she really believes that. “Kiss me,” she begs.
“If I kiss you, will you sign the papers and leave me the hell alone?”
“I promise. Just kiss me and tell me that you don’t love me, and I will give you what you want.”
“Sign the papers first and then…” I dip my head down. My mouth a quarter of an inch from hers. My beard is practically tickling her bottom lip. “Then I’ll take you right here on this desk. I’ll give you one last fuck to remember me by. One last fuck to wish you had never walked away from me.”
She smiles satisfied and I reach around her to grab a pen.
I watch eagerly as she signs on the line and dates it. I take the papers and lock them in my desk and she seriously starts to get undressed.
She bats her lashes at me and pulls her top off.
“How do you want me?”
Milking it for what it’s worth, I walk around the desk, making for the door as though I intend to lock it. Just as my hand goes to the knob, Conleigh pushes through from the other side.
The huge smile spread across her face falls as she takes in Reese topless.
Tears spring in her eyes as she looks to me. “What the fuck, Holden!” She smacks my chest.
“It isn’t what it looks like. I was just getting ready to make her leave. I did what I had to, to get her to sign the papers.”
“Exactly what did you have to do?” Her brows knit as she stares me down and damn if looks could kill I’d be a dead man right now.
“Nothing happened,” I vow.
“He fucked me on the desk. I was just getting my clothes back on,” Reese lies through her whore teeth.
“I don’t believe you,” Conleigh says, shaking her head.
“Why would I lie?” Reese scrunches up her face and squeals as though she is the one being put out by all this drama.
“Because you’re desperate for money. You see, my best friend is the greatest friend in the whole wide world and she has been spending a lot of time with Wren and you know what she found out? She found out that you thought you could take Holden for all he has. Wren told her how you planned on setting him up, and when he saw how truly happy Holden is with me he didn’t want to tell him about the shady shit you were doing. He decided to take care of you on his own because he didn’t want to hurt his little brother any more than he already had. He paid you to get lost, so why are you still here?”
Reese charges at Conleigh like a crazy lady holding the letter opener from my desk as though she intends to use it. I jerk her back by her hair and nearly choke the bitch to death to keep her from going after Conleigh.
The next thing I know Missy is standing in the doorway with her mouth hanging open. “Sorry to interrupt your kink fest but you’re needed at the bar.”
“Actually, Missy. I could use your help taking the trash out,” Conleigh says to her.
Reese drops the letter opener and Conleigh throws her shirt at her.
I don’t even bother giving her time to cover up. Missy holds her hand out in front of her and waves Reese to the door. “Let’s go. You hea
rd them. Time to take out the trash.”
Without a word, the two of them exit leaving me alone with my girl.
“Well that was interesting,” Conleigh states and comes to me.
“Did Bailey really tell you that shit about Reese?” I question as I wrap my arms around her.
“Yeah, that’s what took me so long to get here. Bailey called and made Wren tell me. Don’t be mad at him. He thought he was protecting you.”
I nod and decide to think on it later. I’m just grateful Conleigh believes me.
“Missy told me she was in your office. I told her to give me five minutes and interrupt. I wasn’t sure if I could keep from killing her if there wasn’t witnesses. At first, it took me off guard seeing her shirtless but deep down I knew that I trusted you. I know you love me and you won’t hurt me.” She grins, and I kiss her forehead.
Once the excitement has dissipated we meet up with my brother and Bailey to sign the partnership agreement and celebrate her big news about her book deal.
I wanted to take Conleigh out to a nice restaurant, but her and Bailey insisted they cook us a meal. They have gone to the grocery store. When I get to the apartment Wren is standing in the living room shaking his head and muttering while reading a note.
He laughs and hands it to me.
It appears to be from Ezra. All of his shit is gone, thank god. I don't ever want to see the bastard again. I don’t necessarily hate him—yeah, I do. He’s a prick. I scan the note.
Dear fuckers,
You deserve each other. I hope you are miserable together. Holden, if I were you, man, I would watch my back. Before you know it Conleigh will be sucking your brother’s dick just like your wife did. She is nothing but a whore and I hope your dick rots off. Preferably by an STD that Conleigh will no doubt catch from your brother. You both did me a favor.
Have a not so great life, assholes,
E
Chapter 31
Conleigh
2 months later
