Page 38 of Wish You Would

I don’t know how this man has this much power over me, but I need to get Holden out of my system. I don’t care if I can only have him for a little while.

My eyes close, and before I can register what is happening, he crushes his lips to mine, kissing me deeply. My armsmove around his neck as I kiss him back, tasting the whiskey and mint on his tongue. My god,yes. Holden can kiss. He wasn’t lying when he said this would be the best kiss of my life. It is, and then some, and he’s only just got started.

He lets out a soft groan before delving deeper with his tongue as his hand slides around to the back of my neck. He controls the kiss. I savor the moment. Then his tongue sweeps over every inch of my mouth, licking every corner, and I’m melting into him.

I know I should stop. I know this is a terrible idea, but I only kiss him harder as he grinds his erection against my center. Holden has me caged in with his thighs between my spread legs and his chest pressed against mine. His hand grips the back of my neck as he deepens the kiss. He doesn’t stop until we both need to come up for air, until my entire body tingles with heat and the space between my thighs aches to be touched. We both moan into the kiss as we break apart.

“Tell me to stop,” he demands.

“I can’t,” I breathe, sealing my lips back to his.

Holden keeps kissing me, ravishing my mouth, as his grasp on the back of my neck tightens and his eager mouth prowls mine.

Now is when weshouldstop, say goodnight, and go to sleep in separate rooms, but instead my hands roam through his thick hair then down his shoulders to his back, enjoying the way his body fits against mine.

“Briar.” His fingers trail down the slope of my throat before he kisses a path along my jaw then down the column of my neck. “I’ve wanted this for so long.”

He sucks on my neck until I whimper, until a throb pulses between my legs. My heartbeat thumps behind myribcage as Holden sucks and licks every inch of my neck. But as good as his mouth feels, it’s not enough. I want more.

“Holden.” I fist his T-shirt. “Yes. Please. More.”

“I’ll give you whatever you want, Bee,” he murmurs against my ear before sucking the lobe into his mouth.

My head slowly falls back in pure ecstasy when he licks the shell of my ear. “Yes.”

“I want you, Briar. So fucking badly.”

“Then take me.”

He pulls back, and his eyes meet mine. I see the question in them, asking me if I’m sure. I nod. When I seal my lips to his in a confident kiss, he picks me up and carries me to his bedroom.

Holden lays me out on his comforter in the dimly lit room then moves to stand at the foot of the bed. The silvery light coming through the window illuminates the movement of his hands as he works on the buttons of his shirt. He tosses the fabric to the floor, giving me an incredible view of his pecs and his abs, and oh yes, itisan 8-pack.

How does anyone look like that and not work out for a living? Solid, cut muscles with the perfect amount of chest hair; a dusting between his firm pecs and a trail that leads all the way to the waistband of his pants.

“Holden, I need to touch you,” I say, shimmying up the bed until my head is on the pillow.

“Any idea how hot it is when you ask me for what you want?”

He crawls over me until he captures my lips in a needy kiss. My hands wander over the hard plains of his back, needing to feel his skin against mine. Needing him as close to me as I can get him. I want our clothes gone. My pulse thrums with heat when he nudges my thighs apart and settles between my legs.

He breaks the kiss, his fingers wandering to the strap on my shoulder. “This dress, Bee. You’re perfect. I’ve been fighting a hard-on all night.”

Holden’s fingers tug at the zipper at the side of my dress then he slips the straps from my shoulders, slowly stripping the fuchsia ribbons down my arms. I watch his eyes widen in appreciation as he eases the fabric over my breasts, realizing I’m not wearing a bra. He keeps going, sliding the dress over my hips and then tossing it to the floor alongside his shirt.

This is how I want every night to end while I’m living in his house. I want him to carry me to his room, watch him as he strips for me and then takes me out of every scrap of my clothing before he fucks me senseless.

“Damn, Briar.” His eyes move from my black lace thong to my abdomen before settling on my chest. He bends and sucks my nipple into his mouth. My back arches into him, savoring the tremble of my skin as his tongue licks and sucks and flicks at the sensitive peak. He sucks harder. I moan. His fingers pinch. I shudder. While Holden torments both of my breasts, I squirm underneath him, releasing a series of groans.

It. Feels. So. Good.

“More of that. Yes,” I plead, and he does what I want, licking and sucking.

I grip the strands of his hair as my pelvis rocks into his, seeking the friction I so badly need to relieve the ache between my legs. I don’t need to see it to know that Holden is hard. I can feel the length of him graze my clit every time his erection rolls over me.

“You need to take these off,” I tell him as my hands press against the belt on his jeans.

His mouth pops off my nipple and he sits back on hisknees. He smiles down at me, my fake boyfriend who I have fantasized about for days, agonizing over how badly I wanted him.

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