by Dawn Doyle
Dev was obviously concerned for her brother as well as her. Ben was worried too. Knowing Alex for so long, they were like family.
“Hey, how’s things?” Dev asked as she sat on the end of the bed with Ben.
“Getting there.” Replied Holly with a smile.
“You ok man?” Ben asked Alex with a bro-hug.
“Yeah, thanks.” Alex said with an unspoken ‘manly’ best friend communication between them.
Holly was happy that they’d come over. Dev had been there for her since she’d started at New Haven and was there when they’d found her in the shed with Stacey. There was no way she’d turn them away.
Dev and Ben stayed for a while, and Kim asked them to stay for dinner. Again, Holly and Alex didn’t eat much, but neither did anybody else. The night before clearly on everybody’s minds had made them all lose their appetite.
Once Dev and Ben were leaving, Holly insisted that they check the car before getting in. Seeing everything was ok; Holly and Alex went back to her room.
Holly was not looking forward to Em’s reaction. Her temper at Riss’ house when Ryan threw her into the pool was bad enough. For something this bad, she didn’t know what Em would say or do. It was too late to call her anyway. It would be early hours in the UK, and Emily would probably have been out celebrating her first exam being over with.
Alex’s phone rang as they sat on the bed.
“Hi, Mom.” He said. Holly felt bad that Alex was spending all of his time with her when his family were concerned about him too. “Yeah, we’re ok.” He replied to Evie. Alex seemed to sense Holly’s guilt when he wrapped his arm around her tightly. “No, she’s doing really well. She’s so brave.” He said as gazed into her eyes. “I will, Mom. I’ll see you soon. Bye. Love you too.” He ended the call and wrapped his other arm around her too.
“My Mom asked how you were doing. She asked if you had…um…any symptoms.”
Holly knew he meant ‘shock’ symptoms.
“She asked me to tell you that if you need anything, she’s there.” He added.
Holly smiled as she pressed her cheek to Alex’s firm chest.
“Your Mum’s lovely.” She said gently. “Not just for that, but for not telling you to go home too.”
“Well, even if she did I wouldn’t go without you.” He said as he kissed the top of her head.
“I love you.” Holly whispered.
“Babe, I love you too.”
Alex held her tighter before pulling back to cup her face in his hands. He looked longingly into her eyes before his gaze dropped to her mouth. He brought his lips to hers and kissed her softly. Gently sucking her lower lip.
Holly’s hands fisted in his T-shirt as their kiss deepened.
She released his shirt and ran her hands up over his chest, his shoulders and neck. Pushing her body closer to his, pressing herself to him. Her skin tingled where they touched, even though they were fully clothed. The sensations heating as they travelled through her and down to her lady parts.
Holly quickly threw a leg over Alex’s thighs so she was straddling him. She ran her hands up and threaded her fingers into his hair as she moaned into his mouth. His own arousal evident as it presses against her through his jeans. Holly lightly licked across Alex’s bottom lip before tasting his tongue with hers.
Her heart was beating hard and loud as her breathing rate increased.
She was trying to restrain herself from removing his shirt and kissing all over his perfectly sculpted torso. Holly knew they should be trying to rest because they’d not had much sleep. She also knew their emotions were sensitive, and they needed time to deal with them.
Holly was running through the thoughts that were in her head. Knowing the sensible thing to do was to avoid getting each other in a highly aroused state.
Yeah that was the sensible thing to do but the way Alex kissed her…it was impossible not to get turned on. Especially as he was running his strong hands up and down her back.
I want you. Now, always, forever.
She’d come really close to not having that chance.
That chance of forever with Alex.
Seeing him, touching him, kissing his lips.
Having him tell her that he loves her and that she’s his everything.
Holly broke their kiss, panting as she looked into Alex’s eyes. Seeing the love for her in the deep brown pools. She felt her own eyes fill with tears. Alex’s arms tightened around her, worry filling his own.
“Oh, babe.” He said softly.
“I came close to losing this.” She said as if she had only just realised. “Losing you, your kisses, touches, smiles.” The tears spilled over her cheeks as she continued. “She was going to take me away from seeing you again.” Alex held her as she cried. “You thought she had.” Holly added quickly, and Alex nodded.
“That was the worst feeling when I thought you were gone.” He said. “I felt as though I’d been torn apart. Empty. I can’t even imagine how you felt. My brave girl. Nobody will hurt you again. I promise.” Alex held her to his chest as she sobbed.
Holly needed to get it out. Maybe it was a symptom after all. A delayed reaction to her kidnapping.
Yes. She’d been kidnapped at gunpoint, threatened with harm to Alex, her own life, and made to listened to the sick and twisted details of Stacey’s psychotic actions.
She’d survived.
If Alex hadn’t called her, she could’ve been dead. If he hadn't had reacted as quick as he did, she could’ve been dead. Alex had saved her life.
“You saved my life.” She told him. “If you hadn’t called, or reacted quickly…” She took a breath. “You saved me.”
Alex smiled at her as he brushed some loose tendrils of hair away from her face.
“You saved mine first.” He replied.
Stacey had gone to kill Alex first, before she’d seen Holly at the door with him, and changed her mind. If Holly hadn’t walked him to the door, Stacey would’ve shot him dead.
Holly smiled back as he wiped her tears.
“As much as it pains me to say this, you need to get some rest babe.” He groaned, clearly not wanting to let Holly go. She was tired, as was he.
They broke apart, and Alex quickly kissed her before she got off the bed and headed into her bathroom to shower, and Alex went to the other.
He’d gotten back before Holly had come out, so she wouldn’t have been alone in her bedroom.
Once in bed, they cuddled together, Holly tucked into Alex’s chest, his arms around her. Exhaustion overpowering them as they fell asleep.
Chapter 32
Sunday morning began with a repeat of the day before. Holly’s hands stroking Alex’s bare torso up and down.
Alex heard Holly sigh before she pressed her lips to his chest.
“I’ll never go home if each morning is like this.” He chuckled.
“Mmm” Holly moaned. “I can live with that.” She said as she pressed more kisses to his pecs.
“Good, because I don’t plan on leaving any time soon.” He replied as he stroked up her back with his fingertips.
He felt her skin shiver when his hands reached her bare upper back, above the seam of her PJ top. He slowly stroked back down and gently ran his hand under the back of her top, caressing her naked skin. Holly lifted her leg higher over his and pulled herself tighter to him. His body had reacted instantly to her touch and his ‘friend’ had well and truly woken up.
“Excellent” she breathed into his chest, sending goosebumps over his skin.
Holly’s lips grazed over his chest, to his neck, his heart speeding up as she did.
She hadn’t even gotten to his mouth, and already he was craving more. Her hands slid back down his chest, over his abs and one reached round to his lower back before gripping his ass.
Holly let out an appreciative sigh as her fingertips pressed into his flesh, causing his entire body to ignite.
“God… Holly.” He strained to say.
; “I’m still asleep.” She said. “I have no control over my actions” she purred as she gripped his ass again.
“I guess I shouldn’t wake you then.” He chuckled.
“No. You should let me sleep. Mmm”
Alex heard Holly’s stomach growl, followed by his own.
“You need to wake for breakfast though.” He said as she kissed his collarbone. “You haven’t eaten much; babe”
“Neither have you.” Holly replied as she pulled back.
“You know what I want?” He asked, lowering his voice. Holly looked into his eyes, her mouth opening at his tone. “Quiero tu cuerpo para el desayuno”
Holly gasped and Alex quickly pecked her on the lips. He cupped her face with his hands.
“How are you feeling?” He asked, quietly. Holly had gotten upset the night before. He knew she’d have flashbacks and bouts of anxiety.
The paramedic, and his Mom both said that Holly would possibly be distant at times, and have sudden bursts of being upset, but it was the brains’ way of dealing with what had happened. The paramedic had expected a full breakdown by now, but Holly was strong. After all, she’d just had her hands all over him. Even so, he needed to make sure she was ok.
“I’m feeling better…” she nodded as she spoke. A smile crept across her lips. “Feeling you is better.” Her smile turned into a grin, and he laughed.
“I love you.” He whispered as he gazed at her beautiful face. This was what he wanted to see everyday. First thing in the morning and last thing at night…forever.
“I love you too.” She whispered back and placed a gentle kiss on his lips.
Their stomachs growled in protest from the lack of food.
“Ok, let’s go.” Holly groaned as she pushed back the covers. Holly’s eyes drifted down Alex’s body, sending tingles through him from her lustful stare. He watched her expression change when she spotted his tented PJ bottoms. Her eyes widened, and her mouth hung open.
“Well, good morning to you too.” She said, and she bit her lower lip.
Alex could feel his cheeks heat. Holly didn’t look at all embarrassed at seeing the effects of their morning, she seemed to look aroused by it. Her eyes slowly drifted back to his and that’s when he saw a little blush. She took a deep breath and stood up.
“I’m going… to shower.” She said, shakily. “I won’t be long.”
“I’ll…um…go to the other one.” He said quickly and stood when Holly turned to walk into her bathroom. Once again, he returned before she did.
During breakfast, they both ate more than the previous day, to Kim’s relief.
“Mum, are you alright?” Holly asked as she saw her Mum looked troubled.
“Yeah baby girl. I, erm, spoke to Emily about an hour ago.”
Holly blew out a breath as her stomach fell.
“You told her then” It was a statement rather than a question.
“Yes love. She went berserk, but I managed to calm her down. She wanted to talk to you, but I told her you were still sleeping. She wants you to ring her”
Kim got up to pour coffee.
“Oh great. I will in a bit. I’m not awake enough to handle Em right now.”
Alex leant into her, close to her ear.
“You were awake enough to handle me, babe.” He whispered.
Holly’s eyes snapped to Alex’s as a flow of electricity shot through her causing her heart to race. Her cheeks heated, and she pulled her lower lip into her mouth.
“Down girl.” He said in his sexy, low tone, turning Holly’s legs to jelly.
“Speak for yourself” Holly shot back and she looked pointedly down towards his lower half. Alex’s eyes widened, and Holly winked as she smiled.
“Oli’s gone to the office to get a head start on the case.” Kim informed them as she sat back down. “He’s going to see what he can do to stop any of this going to the press and to start a complaint against the judge who authorised the releases”
“Oh God…the press.” Groaned Holly.
That’s all she needed. Nosy reporters hanging around trying to get a story from the ‘victim’. She didn’t want that in the slightest. Even if it meant exposing the failings of the authorities, she still didn’t want people sticking their noses in.
“Well, considering the inability of keeping Stacey locked up and allowing her to do this, I don’t think the police want to have their mistakes going public. Oli is trying to make sure that none of them leak anything to the media.” Said Kim.
“Is that possible? I mean, can he stop them from talking?” Asked Alex.
Holly could see the hopefulness in his face. He didn’t want her, or anybody else, harassed.
“It should be.” Kim nodded. “Oli is one of the best lawyers out there. He’ll have all of those involved threatened with legal action. He’ll use everything he can to stop all of you from getting hounded.”
Alex released a relieved breath.
“Thank God.” He said.
The house phone rang, and Kim answered.
“Hol…it’s Em.” She said as she held the phone to Holly. Alex held her hand as she took the phone.
“Hiya Em” Holly said into the receiver.
“Holly! Oh my God! Are you ok? Mum said worrappened!” Em shouted down the phone.
She was so loud, as she carried on talking, Holly had to hold the phone away from her ear. Em was using so many curse words, even a sailor would be shocked.
“Em, calm down. We’re fine. Nobody was hurt.” Holly tried to pacify Em’s violent rant.
“But she coulda killed ye! Even Alex! For fuck’s sake, Hol, ‘ow are you not kickin’ off?!” Em said, her voice still raised.
“Because I’ve done that Em, and we want to get past it now. It happened…I’m fine… she’s gone.”
Holly felt Alex kiss her temple as she spoke. He rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand. It soothed her. A simple caress from Alex made her feel so much calmer.
“Yeah, well I’m glad you broke the fuckers arm and face. She well deserved more than tha’, the whore.” Emily said with venom.
She started to calm down as Holly kept insisting that she was fine, even though talking about it was upsetting her.
Kim had told Emily what had happened, because she was flying over, with her Nan, to surprise Holly for her birthday. But, under the circumstances, Kim thought it was better knowing now than finding out when they got there and ruining Holly’s birthday. Holly was happy they were coming. She missed Em and her Nan, who she hadn’t seen since they’d moved to Seattle.
Holly hadn’t thought much about her birthday. She hadn’t had anything planned, but now she knew they were coming, she guessed her Mum had planned a family dinner at a restaurant, or something. She wasn’t sure she wanted to go anywhere like that, just yet.
“Your Nan’s been looking forward to coming over.” Said Kim as Holly ended the call with Emily.
“I’ve missed her.” She said.
“She’s looking forward to meeting you, Alex.” Smiled Kim.
“Me too.” He replied. “She sounds like a great lady.”
“She is.”
They got up from the table, and Holly led Alex outside into the rear garden. He hadn’t been out there since they all helped put the garden back together. Once outside, he looked around. In just a few days, the plants looked bigger like they had had some kind of magical growth spurt.
“Wow, this looks great!” He said in awe.
“Thanks, babe. I couldn’t have down it without you and the others.” She gushed.
Holly’s garden was her pride and joy. Especially the memorial rockery for her real Dad, James.
Holly led them to the greenhouse and opened the lids off the trays that she had lined up. Alex saw that every compartment had sprouted… something. Holly sprayed them all with water.
“They’ll be ready to plant out in a couple of weeks.” She said with a smile.
Alex loved to see her smile. He stroked his hand
across her cheek and kissed her full, pink lips.
“Mmmm.” She sighed, and Alex’s pants strained against the growing hard on that he was sporting.
They left the greenhouse and looked around.
“They all did a great job.” She said about their friends, helping with the cleanup and repairs.
They went to her Dad’s rockery and sat down. Holly sat in-between Alex’s legs with her back to his front. He wrapped his arms around her waist as she leant her head back against his shoulder. He buried his nose in her hair and inhaled. Coconut.
They sat there for a few moments, in the sunshine, listening to the birds singing and the bees buzzing around the flowers.
“This is nice.” She said in an almost whisper. “Sitting here together…It’s peaceful”
“Yeah it is.” He replied before pressing his lips, lightly, to the curve in Holly’s neck where it met her shoulder.
“Holly, Alex, the others are here!” Kim called from the doorway. They got up off the floor as Dev, Ben, Ryan, Riss, Kyle and Kayla walked out into the garden. The girls immediately rushed to Holly and pulled her into a group hug.
“We’re so glad you’re ok honey.” Said Riss.
“We’re here for you, too.” Said Kayla. “Now, we won’t say anymore sweetie.” She added.
“Thanks guys” Holly smiled as Alex held her hand. He was hoping the girls wouldn’t bombard Holly with questions, and he was grateful that they didn’t. She’d looked sad after talking to Em, and he’d hated it.