Page 73 of Wish You Would

Holden’s fingertips brush over my cheek then behind my ear, pushing away a few loose strands of hair. My skin pebbles under his touch, a shiver rolling down my spine. Holden smirks, knowing exactly what he’s doing to me.

“What? I’m cold.”

“Un-huh. Sure.”

His fingers dust a path down my neck before he’s walking me backwards, pinning me against the countertop. His chest presses to mine, and I swear I can feel the pounding of his heart. “We’re done pretending, Bee.”

“Done.” I glide my hands over his pecs.

“You’re going to tell Daisy, and your mom, and anyone else who asks, that we’re together.”

I smile and he kisses the smile from my lips. I’m a mess for this man. The love I have for him is limitless. Holden has been by my side every step of my pregnancy even though just months ago he never saw himself being a father. He’s taken care of me. He’s planning for our future. He has spent the last few months learning everything he can about a baby he’s never met.

“Is that really what you want?” My voice comes out ragged, breathy.

“I’ve always wanted you. I just didn’t realize I could have you,” he whispers. “All I want is to make you happy.”

“You do make me happy.”

“I want you to trust that I am here for you and Slugger.”He cups my face in his palms. “Now that I have you, Bee, I’m never letting you go. I’m not going anywhere.”

Oh god. I love it when he talks to me like this.

I’ve never been spoken to in such a beautiful, vulnerable way. I nod, realizing how badly I needed to hear him say that. I’ve been mistreated and thrown away in the past, but this feels different. I wasn’t sure I would ever be able to really trust a man again, but Holden has changed that.

“I trust you.”

And I’m falling so hard for you.

He reaches for me, his strong hand capturing the nape of my neck, holding me in place. It takes me by surprise but when he pulls me to him, my body goes willingly. We collide together, my chest pressed against his, his mouth colliding with mine.

I swallow his moan as he kisses me. Holden is kissing me, and I finally give in and let him take control. The kiss is demanding, as if he’s making up for not kissing me all these weeks. His fingers grip the back of my hair, and mine snake around the back of his neck, urging him on, needing him to kiss me with everything he has. I’ve waited so long for this, for him. I hold him as close to me as our bodies will allow, breathing him in, kissing him harder until his tongue sweeps along the seam of my lips begging for entry.

I taste him, my tongue sliding against his, desire and lust winding through my body. What was I thinking waiting this long to kiss him again?

He sweeps my hair over my shoulder to kiss along my jaw then down my throat. “I’ve missed you.”

“You could have had me whenever you wanted,” I murmur, my toes curling against the hardwood floor as he presses open-mouthed kisses over my skin.

“You weren’t ready.”

“Oh, I was.” I feel my cheeks heat.

“You were always going to be worth the wait.”

A grin creeps over my face and when he smiles back, I am not okay.

Holden knows how to turn my entire body into liquid. He can turn me on with just a look.

“Mine, Bee. You are mine, and I won’t ever pretend again that what we have isn’t real because it is.” He pulls away to look at me, intensity in his eyes. “We’re real. You are the only thing that I want. You and our baby. Fuck.” He rakes his hand through his hair. “This is the last thing I ever expected to happen, but you and Slugger mean everything to me. I don’t care about anything else. All I know is I want you and our family.”

Tears blur my vision as his hands cup my face in his hands. “Don’t cry, Bee. It kills me.”

“They’re happy tears, I promise. Blame it on the hormones.”

“Whatever you need to tell yourself.” He cocks his head with that smirk that buckles my knees. Then his mouth crashes into mine in a frenzied need. My body hums with anticipation as his tongue sweeps over every corner of my mouth.

Holden is a passionate lover, and I finally know what it feels like to be in the arms of a real man. My hands fist his shirt when he begins to trail slow, wet kisses down my neck.

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