“It’s time,” his voice grits like sandpaper.
I nod and sag back against his chest. I know it is. The only thing motivating me right now is having Holden by my side. Knowing that I have him when this is over is reassuring.
“We do this together.” He squeezes my hand and spins me around.
My head snuggles into his chest and my arms go around his waist.
“Okay,” I settle.
With my hand in Holden’s, I return to the living room to confront Ezra.
He’s pacing in front of the entertainment stand. His disheveled appearance tells me that yes, he knows about me and Holden. His cloudy eyes meet mine.
“How long?”
“What?”
“How long have you been fucking him behind my back?”
“Not as long as you’ve been fucking Judy.” I laugh without humor.
“I told you that was over.”
“That’s not what she told me an hour ago,” I counter.
“What are you talking about?”
“I ran into Judy and she told me that she’s on vacation this week. You didn’t fire her. You’re still fucking her. What are you doing back early?”
“I wanted to surprise you and I come home to find my shit in boxes and your stuff in my best friend’s room. You’re nothing but a slut.”
“Don’t call her that,” Holden warns, joining the conversation.
“What are you going to do about it? You can’t even get your own pussy. You gotta fuck my girlfriend because everyone has already had your lame dick and figured out what a fucking loser you are. Even your wife left you for your own brother no less. You’re fucking pathetic, man. Hell, she even called and propositioned me. How do you think I found about you two? She sent me pictures. She’s been watching you make a fool of me, but no more. You guys can have each other.”
Holden gets in his face and grabs him up by the collar of his shirt. Ezra’s feet are dangling in the air. “You’re gonna get your shit and get the fuck out.”
Holden is furious as him and Ezra spit insults at one another.
“What are you mad about, Holden? That Reese came crawling to me? That your wife wanted my dick? Have fun with my leftovers, I don’t want yours,” he sneers.
And that’s it. Holden rears his fist back and lands a hook to Ezra’s nose. Blood spurts out and splatters across his face then he drops him to the floor and kicks him.
Ezra grabs his nose, making a pained face. “You broke my goddamned nose!”
“I’ll break your dick next of you don’t get the fuck out and stay away from her.”
I have to admit, as I was watching the scene play out, that for a moment Ezra planted doubt in my mind. Because it did seem Holden was upset about Reese, but I can’t go down that road right now. I know Holden loves me. When he says stay away from her, he means me, doesn’t he?
Holden storms to the front door and swings it open. “You can walk out or I will throw you out,” he threatens.
Ezra stumbles to his feet. He staggers toward me and grabs my face with his bloody fingers. “You’ll come crawling back to me when he fucks you over. I give you a week, if that, before he’s fucking Reese again.” He attempts to kiss me but Holden has grabbed him around his neck in a chokehold and is dragging him to the door.
I sink to the floor as tears sting my eyes, trying to process what just happened. I knew it would be bad. I just never pictured it going this south. And what the fuck did he mean Reese was watching us and taking pictures? I rub my hands up and down my arms, feeling violated.
Holden is still seething when he slams the door shut.
“I need a minute, baby.”
I can only nod. I don’t know what he is thinking right now. Is he thinking about Reese? Is he regretting being with me? He just hit his best friend and kicked him out all for me.
Holden goes to the bathroom and I hear the mirror shatter. I get up from the floor and go to him. The glass is shattered in the sink and his knuckles are split open.
“Holden! What are you doing? Your knuckles! We need to go get your hand checked out.” I grab a towel and wrap it around his hand. The white cotton turns to red immediately.
“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 14
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 happy 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 15
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 nipple. 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.
Stealing Conleigh : Part 2 (Stealing Love ) Page 8