Her stomach flip-flopped. What was he saying?
“You’ve changed everything.” John gripped her upper arms more tightly. “Everything. You are the right one.”
For one moment she wanted to throw her arms around him and let him hold her. His words were everything she could have hoped for.
No, it wasn’t the right thing to do. She paused then shook her head. “I’m not the one for you.” His forehead wrinkled and he frowned as she spoke. “With what’s going on in my life, with how messed up everything is, we shouldn’t be dating at all. I might be sent away for the rest of my life.”
Frustration crossed his features. “I’ve told you that I’m going to save you, Hollie. You have got to trust me.”
“There are no guarantees that you’ll be able to.” Words caught in her throat for a moment. “My life is royally screwed up right now. I’m screwed up. You don’t need that.”
A flash of anger in his eyes caught her off guard. “You are not screwed up. You’ve been stuck in a bad situation that isn’t of your making and isn’t your fault.”
“I—it’s not a good idea,” she started.
He cut her off. “I told you that you have to trust me to save you, because I will. That’s all there is to it.” His grip still on her upper arms, he brought her roughly to him. “You are mine, Hollie. I will never let anything happen to you.”
She gasped as he brought his mouth down hard on hers. He seemed to put everything into the kiss—anger, frustration, but power and dominance, too. It was as if he was making a statement, enforcing the fact that he thought she belonged to him.
He wouldn’t break away from the kiss until she fell into it, giving herself up, surrendering to him. She returned his kiss with passion that matched his. Whatever happened, they had this moment, this time together, and that might have to be enough.
She was breathless when they broke apart and he took both her hands in his. “Come on. I’ve been planning on taking you out to dinner.” He walked with her back to the truck and helped her into the passenger side. “There’s a great little Mexican place just up the road.”
“Sounds great.” She gave him a smile before he closed the door behind her.
The restaurant wasn’t far. It was a fifteen-minute wait to be seated, so they sat on a bench just inside the door and talked about the things they’d seen at the art fair. It was safe conversation and neither one of them brought up what had happened with Nadia. That subject was closed, at least for now. He also seemed to understand the need to not bring up anything stressful that was happening in her life right now—her brothers and the possibility of going to prison at the top of the list.
Twenty-minutes later they were seated and looking at the drink menu together. John ordered the house margarita while Hollie picked out the prickly pear margarita, before studying the dinner menus. Hollie decided on the beef burrito plate with rice and black beans while John went with an enchilada-style chimichanga, rice, and refried beans.
The server delivered the margaritas and Hollie’s eyes widened at how huge they were. While they waited for their food, she sipped her margarita and felt herself loosen up and become more relaxed. “What was it like growing up in a houseful of boys?” she asked, figuring that was a safe topic.
John shook his head. “If you’d ask Angel, she’d probably say trouble. I mentioned before that we’re all competitive, and that led to a little animosity at times. For the most part we got along, but sometimes it was Mike and I against Reese and Garrett. We’d side up and have ourselves a war.”
“Didn’t you all get along?” Hollie studied him. “I thought you did.”
“When we weren’t trying to outdo each other.” The corner of John’s mouth quirked. “I think we recognized that we’re all good guys—that just didn’t mean we got along all the time. No one was ever malicious or underhanded. We were just a bunch of boys hell-bent on getting into whatever trouble we could.”
Hollie raised her eyebrows. “What kinds of things did you do?”
John shrugged. “Playing tricks, trying to outdo the others, attempting to get each other into trouble with Dad and Angel. All in all it was mostly harmless, but we gave Angel and Dad more than a few gray hairs.”
“I was an only child when Mom died.” Hollie didn’t want to talk about what had happened after. “From what I’ve been told, I was a precocious child, but for the most part a good girl. My mom taught me to act like a lady from a young age.”
“And you certainly are.” John held her gaze. “A lady through and through.”
Holly felt a blush redden her cheeks. “Thank you. That would make Mom happy to hear.”
The Mexican restaurant was busy and it took some time before they were served. It was decorated for the holidays, adding to the festive feeling of the place. As they waited, they talked about their lives, Hollie always steering clear of the things that weren’t good, and John didn’t push her.
She felt a sense of pride as she talked to him about her kindergarteners and how they were doing with learning to write their names and the more complicated task of memorizing their phone numbers. They were learning to read simple stories and writing the alphabet. Because they were kindergarteners, it was more about the basics, but they were smart kids and most learned quickly. Arts and crafts projects were the most fun to do with the children.
“It’s always fun to see what the kids come up with,” Hollie said with a smile.
Dinner was excellent and the huge prickly pear margarita had given her a nice, mellow feeling. They took their time and it was late afternoon by the time they left the restaurant and headed to the resort. It seemed like forever since the incident with Nadia, as if it was a memory from long ago.
As they left the restaurant, John put his arm around her shoulders and she smiled at him before they walked out into the chilly day.
Chapter 19
The stunning views of the luxury resort stole Hollie’s breath away. Tucked away in the forest, the resort was set at the doorway to the secluded Boynton Canyon, surrounded by red-rock canyons that inspired the mind and soul.
Once John and Hollie had registered at the resort’s front desk, they went to their casita, John carrying the bags. The casita was lovely with rich earth colors and Native American décor. He set the bags on the king-sized bed, as she went to the sliding glass door that led to the patio. She stepped past the patio furniture and braced her hands on the railing, her lips parted as she took in the scenery.
John came up beside her and she tilted her chin to meet his gaze. “This is incredible.” She looked back to the majestic scenery. “I can feel the energy here, yet a calm peacefulness too.”
He braced his forearms on the patio enclosure and looked at all that surrounded them. “I thought you’d enjoy it.”
She smiled. “I love it. Thank you for bringing me here. I’m going to be utterly spoiled after staying at this place.”
He shifted so that he was standing closer to her. He slid his hand into her hair and cupped the back of her head. “You deserve to be pampered and spoiled.” He lowered his head and captured her mouth with his.
She gave a soft sigh into his mouth and returned his kiss. Her mind felt like it was spinning, enhanced by the spiritual energy surrounding her. She gripped his biceps, clinging to him so that her knees wouldn’t give out on her.
When he drew away from her, she felt almost naked from the loss of contact. He cupped her face in both of his hands. “You are a stunning woman, Hollie.”
His words caught her off guard. He thought she was stunning?
He looked like he was going to say something else when his phone rang. He released her. “I’ve been waiting for a call from my stepbrother, Garrett, the PI. I hope you don’t mind if I take this.”
She smiled. “Of course not.”
He withdrew his phone from the holster on his belt. When he looked at the screen, he said aloud. “It is Garrett.” He pressed “answer” on the screen and brought the p
hone to his ear. “What do you have for me?”
He listened. “Good,” he said after a long moment. “Let me know when you have more.”
After he’d pressed “end”, he tucked away the cell phone then turned to face Hollie. He grasped her around the waist and brought her firmly up against his rock-hard body. She felt his heat through her clothes, his erection against her belly. But more than that, she felt his possessiveness, his desire to make sure that she knew he was putting his stamp on her.
A delicious feeling ran through her body that made her skin feel as if liquid fire was sliding over her from head to toe.
In the next moment he was opening the sliding glass doors to the patio and taking her inside. “I’m going to show you just what you mean to me,” he said. “I’m going to make love to you all night long. I don’t intend to let you come up for air.”
She caught her breath at his words that filled her with emotion and made her body tingle.
He kissed her while unbuttoning her blouse, as if not wanting to break their connection. She could sense the frustration in him as his big fingers worked to undo the buttons on her blouse. One by one he undid them before he pushed the blouse over her shoulders and down her arms.
The broomstick skirt was easier. All he had to do was drag it down over her hips and it fell to the floor around her ankles. Now only in black panties and a matching bra, she kicked off her flats and shoved the skirt away with her foot. He reached around her and unfastened her bra. She let the straps slide down her arms and dropped the bra. He pushed down her panties and she kicked them aside, next to the skirt.
He groaned as he brought her naked body up against him and his rough clothing chafed her body in the most erotic way. She wanted his clothes off and she began to unfasten his buttons. She needed his shirt off so badly that she fumbled in her hurry. Once the shirt was unbuttoned, he shrugged out of it and tossed it aside. She worked on his belt next before tackling the button of his jeans and dragging down the zipper.
With his hands on her shoulders, he toed off his boots and kicked them aside before removing his socks. She shoved his underwear down with his jeans at the same time she dropped to her knees and wrapped her fingers around his thick cock.
John went still as Hollie brought her mouth down on his erection. He’d planned on giving to her completely, not taking. But now that she was on her knees, his cock in her mouth, he found he could barely think, much less stop her and take over. It was as if she had taken control and he was at her mercy.
The feeling of her wet mouth around his cock made his gut tighten and he groaned. He watched her as she took him to the back of her throat and he sucked in his breath as she swirled her tongue along his cock.
Her name came out as a gravelly whisper. “Hollie.”
She’d been a virgin when he’d taken her. How the hell had she learned to go down on a man like she was going down on him? The thought went through his mind that maybe she’d had oral sex with other men and a burst of hot jealousy tore through him.
He fisted his hands in her hair, showing her that she was his now. He wanted all of her—her heart, her mind, her body. No other man should ever enter her mind again because as far as he was concerned, there would be no other man but him.
Where had the jealous thoughts come from? How had he come to want her so much? To need her more than he needed water or air.
“I want to see your eyes.” He barely got the words out and then clenched his teeth as she looked up at him.
She had the most beautiful honey-gold eyes. He brushed hair from her forehead with his fingertips as she looked at him with an innocence that caused his gut to twist.
In and out, her mouth so hot and wet, the feel of his cock at the back of her throat—it was all sending him out of his mind.
An orgasm hovered just seconds away. A part of him wanted to ask her if he could come in her mouth, but another part of him wanted to be inside her, to feel her naked body beneath his.
When he knew he was close to no return, he stilled her with his hands on her head. “Stop.” He barely got the word out and drew his cock out of her mouth. “I don’t want to come yet.”
She looked up at him with such a sweet expression that he wanted to hold her close to him. He took her by her hands and brought her to her feet before wrapping her in his embrace. His cock was harder than he remembered it ever being as it pressed into her belly. She wrapped her arms around his neck and he lowered his head to kiss her, drinking in her scent and her taste.
When he raised his head, he held her face in his hands. “I’ve never wanted or needed anything or anyone like I need you, Hollie. I will do anything for you. I will move mountains for you. Don’t ever doubt me.”
Her throat worked as she swallowed. Slowly she nodded. “I believe you.”
“God, what you do to me.” He groaned and kissed her again, loving the feeling of her naked body against his.
Her eyes widened when he scooped her into his arms and she held onto his neck as he carried her to the bed. He pulled the comforter back and laid her on the mattress, settling her head on a pillow.
He paused long enough to retrieve his jeans, pull his wallet out of a pocket, and slip a condom out. He tossed the packet onto the bed, close to her.
With his eyes focused on hers, he eased onto the bed and braced his hands on the bed to either side of her head as he looked down at her, drinking her up, feeling like he could never get enough of her body, her mind, her taste, her scent.
She looped her arms around his neck as he lowered his head and brought his mouth to hers. Primal instinct took over and he kissed her hard. A growl rose up in his throat, coming out of nowhere and he kissed her with even more passion.
Her passion matched his and the kiss became fierce, wild. He wanted to drive his cock inside her, taking her, staking his claim. He had to fight the instinct, the wildness inside him, and slid his lips to the corner of her mouth.
She whimpered and raised her hips, pressing her mound against his cock. He clenched his jaws, again having to fight the urge to drive inside her.
He licked and kissed her skin as he moved his lips along her shoulder, savoring the salty taste of her skin. He loved the little moans and gasps she made as he touched her. He sucked her nipples and she whimpered from the pleasure he was giving her.
“I’m going to show you how much you mean to me.” The words came out roughly. “I want you to feel it in the way I kiss you, feel it in the way I touch you.”
He didn’t care that they hadn’t actually come together until recently. He was a man who knew what he wanted, a man who would do anything to get what he wanted. He was also a man who cared for and protected what was his.
Hollie was his. He would trade his life for hers.
“John.” She sighed his name as he continued down from her breasts and dipped his tongue into her belly button. “I feel…I feel amazing with you.”
“That’s because you are amazing, honey,” he said as he skimmed his lips lower yet.
Her skin was so soft against his callused hands and his mouth. He loved her full curves, the way her body felt beneath his. He wanted to cherish her, to let her know how he felt through the way he made love to her.
He settled his palms against the soft flesh of the insides of her thighs and pressed them wide before placing a kiss on her mound. He heard her catch her breath as he slid his tongue down and along her slit.
She gasped as he widened her folds with his fingers and he licked the length of her folds, from her clit and down to the soft skin just below. He slipped his palms under her ass and buried his face against her sweet flesh.
With a cry she tightened her fingers in his hair, pulling at the strands as she wriggled beneath him. He loved her taste, her scent, and liked the burn on his scalp as she pulled his hair and squirmed.
He licked her harder, and she made cries and whimpers that fueled his desire for her. He slid two fingers into her silken wet heat and moved them in and out
as he sucked her clit. Her legs trembled to either side of his head she tensed and there was a charge in the air that told him she was close to coming.
She climaxed with a shout that gave him a feeling of intense satisfaction. He licked her until she stopped vibrating and her core stopped clenching around his fingers. Until her body relaxed as she came down from her orgasm high.
He couldn’t wait any longer. He rose to his knees, tore open the foil packet, and rolled the condom down his cock as he held her gaze. Her eyes were heavy-lidded, her lips parted as she held her arms out to him. He positioned his cock at her entrance before kissing her and thrusting inside her, causing her to gasp.
It felt so damn good being inside her. He closed his eyes as he held still for a moment, feeling her tight core around his cock. He opened his eyes and began moving in and out, forcing himself to go slow. She gripped his shoulders as he rose. When he looked down at her he saw that her eyes had widened and her breath was coming in small pants.
His own breathing came harder, perspiration coating his skin. He tried to keep his pace slow but soon he couldn’t hold back. He gritted his teeth and drove deeper. She wrapped her thighs around his hips and moved in time with his motions.
She grasped his shoulders tighter, her nails digging into his flesh. Her eyes glazed as if she was seeing something he couldn’t before her back arched and she cried out his name, almost screaming as she came hard. Her body shuddered and she looked dizzy for a moment.
But even as her orgasm faded, she moved her hips in time with his, meeting his every thrust. He felt his mind start to spin. Sensation wound tight in his groin, expanding until it exploded inside him.
It was an orgasm like he’d never had before. He grew lightheaded as he felt his climax from his scalp to his toes. He thrust a few times more, drawing out his orgasm until he couldn’t take anymore of the sensation. Until he was completely spent.
His arms nearly felt weak as he stared down at her. A droplet of sweat rolled down the side of his face and landed on her collarbone. He kissed her hard before drawing her into his arms and holding her close.
Held by You Page 14