Hold Me Like This (A second chance, small town romance) (Love Me Like This Book 3)

by Lola StVil

  “That would be wonderful, if you don’t mind. It’s just a case of picking up all of the garbage and stacking the chairs around the edges. The janitors will take care of the sweeping and mopping.”

  She hands Grey a key.

  “Don’t forget to lock the gymnasium on your way out. You can drop the key off to the office whenever it’s convenient for you, or I can pick it up from the diner after work tomorrow.”

  “Thanks, guys,” the other teacher says.

  The two teachers leave in a hurry before we can change our minds. I turn to Grey.

  “Nice of you to volunteer me to help,” I say, grinning.

  In truth, I’m ecstatic that she volunteered us to stay. It means she wants some alone time with me.

  “It’ll be much nicer without Miss Shitakker snapping at us,” Grey smirks.

  “True,” I say. “Garbage or chair stacking?”

  “Chair stacking,” Grey says without a second’s hesitation.

  I have to admire her audacity. She volunteered me to stay and then managed to pawn the worst job off on me too. But it’s Grey. I’d go and clean the fucking toilets with my toothbrush if it meant I got to be here alone with her.

  I pick up the roll of garbage bags from behind the refreshment table and begin picking up the paper cups and whatever else I come across. Grey starts on the chairs.

  “Someone had a good night.” I grin, showing her the half empty bottle of vodka I find as I pick up the trash.

  Grey laughs.

  “Yeah, but they’ll regret it in the morning,” she says.

  “I don’t know. I’m thinking they had the right idea. We really missed an opportunity there.”

  It doesn’t take long to get the gym clean. There was surprisingly less mess than I expected. It seems most of the students actually used the trash cans. I go and help Grey with the last few chairs.

  “See. Aren’t you glad I volunteered you to stay now?” Grey smiles as I push the last stack of chairs into place beside the others.

  “Oh yes,” I agree. “Cleaning up is one of my favorite things to do.”

  “Oh, I’ll remember that if I ever need an extra pair of hands at the diner.” She grins.

  She looks so beautiful standing there. Her hair frames her face and skims her shoulders. Her skin glistens, even without the disco lights. I want to take her in my arms, to feel her body against mine. To cup her ass and feel the pertness of it against my palms.

  An idea comes to me, and for a moment, I let myself forget I’m meant to be taking this slowly. I grin at Grey and head for the DJ station.

  “What are you doing?” Grey calls.

  I glance back at her. She is looking around her like she’s expecting the principal to jump out of nowhere and put us in detention.

  “Just wait there for a second,” I say.

  I flick through the CDs beside the player and find one I know Grey will like. I smile to myself as I slip it on and press play and “Far Away” by Nickelback plays. We used to love that band, even went to a few concerts together. It used to be one of her favorites. It wasn’t our song. I’m not that brave. I couldn’t handle being rejected to our song, but this is just for fun.

  I step out onto the dance floor and hold my hand out to Grey.

  “One more dance?” I ask.

  She smiles and comes toward me almost shyly. She slips her hand into mine, and I twirl her around. She laughs and moves closer. We wrap our arms around each other and spin in a slow circle, swaying gently to the music. Grey hums the lyrics and her breath tickles my ear. I swallow hard, aware of her body pressing against mine.

  She lifts her head from my shoulder and looks deep into my eyes. She reaches up and takes my face in her hands and plants her lips on mine. Every inch of my body comes to life in a way I never thought it would again.

  Her lips fit onto mine like they were never apart, and while I’ve avoided asking her to once more be mine, I don’t need to when I feel her kiss. It’s electric. She was always mine, and at that moment, it’s easy to pretend that hasn’t changed. We might have lost the ability to talk to each other about our relationship, but our bodies respond to each other in much the same way as they did before.

  I step closer to her, wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her against me. Her hands move from my face, her arms wrapping around my neck, her wrists crossed behind me.

  She tastes exotic and yet familiar at the same time. Her body molds to mine like we’ve never been apart, her boobs pressed against my chest. I run my hands up her back, moaning gently into her mouth as I touch the one thing that ever mattered to me. The one thing I never thought I would touch again. After all, she said it would never happen again.

  Her tongue probes into my mouth, tasting me, her body remembering mine. I feel a stirring in my crotch as my body presses against hers. I want her as much as I ever did, and the way she presses herself against my erection tells me she wants me too.

  Finally, she pulls back. The kiss is over much too quickly for my liking. I could have stayed in that moment with her forever. We stand motionless for a moment, our eyes locked, our chests heaving with matching pants.

  Grey takes my hand in hers and leads me out of the gym. We don’t stop to turn the music or the lights off. We barely stop long enough to lock the door. She doesn’t speak as she leads me to her car and she doesn’t speak as we pull up outside her apartment. She doesn’t need to. We both know what’s about to happen.

  GREY

  We don’t make it further than the living room before I am ready to jump on Holden. I have to silence the voice in my head. The one that tells me this is a bad idea. How can it be a bad idea when it feels so right? As long as I take the lead, then I’m in control. As long as I set the pace, he can’t hurt me again. I look at Holden. He stands a few feet away from me. I look into his eyes, and it does the trick. The voice of doubt in my head shuts up.

  I turn around and signal for him to unzip me. He grins.

  “I don’t think I need to ask if you’re ready for this, but if I don’t then I’m just another guy,” he says.

  I turn around to meet his gaze; I reach up and pull him to the ground with me. He kneels in front of me, and I gently push him down onto his back. I stand back up and kick off my heels. I slide my panties down and kick them to the side. I kneel down between Holden’s legs as he watches me with eager eyes. I undo his jeans and drag them down with his boxers. I straddle him, moving my hips back and forth, teasing him.

  “Oh, believe me, I’m more than ready for this,” I tell him, dripping on his cock.

  I lean down to kiss him. He reaches up and cups my face with his hands. Our kiss is deep and passionate, and we savor it, enjoying the closeness it brings, taking the time to really feel the anticipation running through our bodies.

  I feel a delicious tickling sensation as Holden moves his hands from my face and runs them down my body. He reaches around and unzips the dress, and we break apart from the kiss for a moment while he pulls it over my head. I sit back up, and he unhooks my bra. I can feel his eyes on me, and it excites me to know that look on his face, the look of lust, is there because he’s looking at me.

  I reach out and unbutton his shirt slowly. I push it to both sides, exposing his chest and stomach. The sight of the tight muscles there sends a shiver through me, and I feel myself twitch in anticipation. I smile and bite my lower lip as I run my fingernails lightly down his chest and stomach. He sucks in a breath and moans as I tease him, moving lower and then pulling my hands away.

  He reaches out for me, and I shake my head. He frowns slightly, but he lets his hands fall to the sides.

  “Are you alright?” he asks, concern in his voice as I refuse his touch.

  “Never better.” I grin.

  I stop rubbing my nails over him, but I’m not done teasing him yet. I’m going to make him want me more than ever. I’m going to make him see exactly what he’s been missing out on for the last seven years.

  I re
ach up and caress my breasts, paying particular attention to my nipples. I pinch them between my thumb and forefinger, moaning as I do it. Holden lets out a low, tortured moan of his own as he lies there, hard beneath me, watching the show.

  I run one hand down my stomach and then move it lower. Holden moans again as I push my fingers inside my lips and massage my clit. As I move my fingers, my lips rub back and forth across Holden’s cock, driving him wild. I feel him harden even more beneath me.

  I speed up, throwing my head back as I bring myself toward orgasm. My other hand still teases my nipple, and I can feel the pulses of pleasure pounding through me. I close my eyes and ease off the pressure a little. I don’t want to orgasm too soon.

  I move my fingers lazily, enjoying making myself hold back in the same way I’m making Holden hold back. His hips thrust beneath me, adding to the sensation that’s building inside of me.

  “Fucking hell, Grey,” he hisses through gritted teeth.

  I bring my head back up and open my eyes slightly, afraid I’m pissing him off rather than turning him on. The look on his face tells me he’s loving every moment of this.

  “You’re … you’re fucking amazing,” he adds.

  I lean forward, keeping my fingers against my clit. I support myself on my other palm. I brush my lips across Holden’s, pulling back slightly as he cranes his neck up to meet my kiss. He cranes his neck further, and I move back again. He smiles and shakes his head. I come back up.

  When I don’t think I can hold off much longer, I bring my hand away from myself. I run my glistening fingers over Holden’s lips, and he writhes beneath me. I insert one finger into his mouth, and he sucks it clean. I slip it out and push the other one in.

  The warm feeling of his mouth, the smoothness of his lips and the roughness of his tongue on my fingers almost push me over the edge as I imagine his tongue working on me. But this isn’t about me. It’s about him. I want to make him feel things he’s never felt before.

  I lean down and kiss him fully this time, tasting myself on his tongue. I kiss down his neck, shuffling backward slightly, hearing him gasp as I move across him. I move back and sit back on his mid thighs. I reach down and encircle his cock with my hand. He moans again as I begin to move my hand up and down him. As I move, I gently squeeze and relax my fist, varying the sensation along his length. His breath is coming in a series of ragged, almost painful, gasps.

  I know he won’t be able to hold back much longer, so I stop moving my hand, giving him a moment for the pleasure to recede a little. When his breathing has slowed a little, I cup his balls, kneading them gently between my fingers, moving my other hand slowly now. He thrusts into my hand, whispering my name.

  Just watching the effect I am having on him has me dripping wet and I don’t think either of us can wait much longer for this. I move my hands, placing my palms flat on the ground. I hold myself low, crawling back up Holden’s body, rubbing my erect nipples up his chest. When I’m right above him, I reach back with one hand, grabbing his cock and impaling myself on it.

  We moan simultaneously as I take his full length. I feel myself opening for him, his cock filling me, making me whole again. I sit back up, moving my body up and down, feeling his cock moving inside of me. He reaches out and puts his hands on my hips, moving me faster up and down on him. I cry out as he pounds into me. He moves one hand, pressing his thumb firmly against my clit. His thumb matches the rhythm of my movements, and waves of pleasure cascade over me. I can’t hold back anymore, and I relax, letting my climax flood through me.

  My skin tingles and my muscles spasm, clenching tightly as the orgasm rips through me. I can feel every part of me pulsing, and for a moment, my vision gets blurry. I feel as though I am floating through space and time, hurtling weightless through the atmosphere. Only Holden and I are real in an imaginary world.

  I hear myself screaming with pleasure, but it’s a faraway sound, almost like I am watching a movie as though it’s coming from another plane. Another wave hits me, and for a second I can’t breathe. I am suspended, my head thrown back, my body stiff and writhing. The release comes, a flood of liquid and a rush of warmth that fills every inch of me.

  I lift my head and smile down at Holden. His eyes are glassy, clouded over with desire as I keep moving on him. I clench around him, my muscles twitching as the orgasm gently fades away leaving me wanting more.

  I move faster. I reach up and tug on my nipples, gasping in a mixture of pain and pleasure as we move. Holden grabs my hips again, pulling me down further, going in deeper, stretching me, filling the empty void he left behind. He’s ready now. I can feel his cock pulsing as his orgasm comes to the surface. He pulls me down again, and I spring back up. Down, up. His cock rubs across my center as I lift myself higher and then slam down on him. I do it again then again. I feel another wave overcoming me as Holden goes rigid and his warmth spurts into me.

  We climax together, our gasps and moans becoming one. The tendons in Holden’s neck stand out as his hands clench into fists at the sides of his body. Another warm spurt and he relaxes as my own orgasm reaches the climax and gently brings me floating back down.

  I move off him and lie beside him. I watch his chest rising and falling quickly as he pants for air. My own breathing matches his. As my heartbeat finally starts to slow down, Holden rolls over and props his head up on one elbow. He puts his other palm flat on my stomach and smiles down at me.

  “Fuck! Grey, you were amazing,” he breathes. “That show you put on. Holy hell.”

  I smile at him and bite my lip. I feel the heat in my cheeks as I blush.

  “I don’t know where that came from,” I admit.

  “Who cares as long as it sticks around.” Holden grins.

  He leans forward and kisses me gently.

  “I’d have been back years ago if I’d known you were going to do that,” he says.

  I am shocked by his words as they catch me totally unprepared.

  “Too soon?” he asks.

  I shake my head, snorting out a laugh. He laughs with me, and it feels like he’s never been away.

  CHAPTER TEN

  GREY

  We lay together, wrapped in each other’s arms for a long time after we finished making love. I wanted so badly to take him to my bed, but that little voice was back. The little voice that told me this couldn’t happen again.

  The night had been a good one; there was no doubt about that. But the dance just reminded me of Holden walking out on me before our own. The sex was mind-blowing, but it just made me realize what I would be missing if he left me again.

  I couldn’t leave myself open to that again. I just … I just couldn’t. I turned to Holden and told him he should go and that what had happened could never happen again.

  He agreed and gave me that knowing smile again. The one that said he was humoring me, knowing it would happen again. And again. And again. Only this time, I knew it couldn’t. I had to let him go now to be able to let go of all of the hurt from the past.

  I could do it. I’d gotten the closure I needed. That we both needed. And now, we could both go on and live our lives, only not together. And I would find a way to deal with that.

  I insisted that I meant it this time, and Holden smiled a less knowing smile. He kissed me on the cheek and said goodbye. And then I let him walk out of my life, my heart breaking, but my head telling me I was doing the right thing.

  “You’ve been staring into space for ten minutes now, Grey. You haven’t said more than hello since you got here. Now spill,” Cannon says.

  I sigh. Where would I even start? I came here planning on telling Cannon everything, but now, I just don’t have the words.

  “Let’s start with the dance. How did it go after I left?” he asks.

  “Isn’t it weird that he showed up?” I ask.

  “Welllll, Julie and I may have set that up.”

  “What … but how?” I say.

  “Let’s just say there was no gala last night.”
Cannon grins.

  I grin back and shake my head.

  “So you and Holden. Did it work? Are you two back together?”

  I shake my head again, serious this time.

  “No. I … I still love him. I think I always will. And while last night was everything and then some, I let myself get caught up in the moment, caught up in him. But then I got to thinking. The dance just reminded me of the one we never got to go to. Do you know I already had my dress before he left? I could never bear to part with it. It’s still hanging in the back of my closet somewhere. I should probably throw it away now. Yeah, I …”

  “Grey,” Cannon interrupts, looking concerned. “You’re babbling. What happened?”

  “It was magical.” I smile. “We went back to my place after the dance, and we made love, and for a moment, I let myself believe we could make it work. For a moment, it was like he never left. But he did leave, Cannon. He did. And although I get why now, it doesn’t hurt any less. I just can’t leave myself open to him finding the next better thing and leaving me again.”

  “Why did he leave?” Cannon asks.

  I explain briefly. He nods his head.

  “That’s a pretty damn good reason to leave, Grey,” he reasons.

  “I know. And like I said, I get it. But seven years is a long time, Cannon. Why didn’t he call or write?”

  That’s the real question.

  The one Holden still hasn’t been able to answer.

  Why did he wait so long to come back for me?

  “Are you sure about this, Grey?” Cannon asks.

  I nod my head, looking more confident in my decision than I feel.

  “Yes. I’m certain. It’s time to move on with my life. Without Holden hanging over me, real or imagined. Last night was the perfect way for us to say goodbye.”

  “And Holden is okay with this?”

  He speaks again before I can answer. “Oh Grey; please tell me you’ve told him.”

  “Of course I told him. I’m not some bitch who will lead him on and then pull the plug on him without a word. I told him it would never happen again. And I think he knew I meant it. He kissed my cheek as he left and said goodbye, and we both knew that was our final goodbye. I think it’s what we both needed, and I think now, we’ll both be able to move on.”