Page 96 of Sticks & Serpents

I felt her fingers graze my jaw, tilting my chin up as if she could see straight into my soul. She searched my eyes with a depth that made everything else fade away.

“You’re mine too, you know,” she said softly.

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. My throat worked, but no words came out. No one had ever said that before—not like this. Not with that kind of certainty and warmth.

Holly leaned in closer, her lips brushing against mine. The touch was soft, not demanding or desperate—just patient. She waited for me to take what she was offering, and for a moment, everything else faded into the background.

I could feel the heat radiating from her body, mixing with the steam swirling around us in the bathroom. My heart raced at the thought of crossing that line again, but something about this moment felt different. It felt real.

I inhaled sharply, feeling the electricity crackle between us as I finally gave in to the pull I had been fighting for so long. My hands slid up her sides, fingers sinking into her hair as I captured her mouth with mine.

The kiss deepened instantly. This wasn’t just about desire; it was about ownership—of each other and all our broken pieces.

She melted against me as if we were two halves finally fitting together after being lost for so long.

I pulled back slightly, searching her face for any sign of doubt or hesitation, but all I saw was resolve—her eyes bright with determination and an unyielding trust that left me breathless.

In that instant, I knew she meant every word.

I exhaled, slow and shaky. Every breath felt charged, electric, as if the very air around us vibrated with the weight of what was happening.

She wanted me.

Not for what I could give her. Not for my name or the reputation that hung over my head like a dark cloud. Not for my body or the scars that told stories of pain and chaos. She wanted just… me.

My hands slid up her back, fingers threading into her damp hair as I pulled her closer. The warmth radiating from her skin sent heat coursing through me, igniting something long buried deep within my chest.

Our lips brushed softly at first, a hesitant exploration of what had been held back for far too long. Then it deepened—raw and desperate—as if we were trying to devour each other whole. Holly shifted against me, pressing closer, our skin slick with steam and water. The sensation was intoxicating.

A soft sigh escaped her lips, and it wrecked me. It shattered every wall I had built around my heart—every barrier I thought I could maintain. Because this wasn’t just lust; it was real. It was fucking real.

I pulled her even tighter against me, feeling every curve of her body fit against mine like she was meant to be there. There was no past weighing us down in this moment; no fear or uncertainty—just the two of us enveloped in the heat of our desire.

Her fingers explored my shoulders, tracing the lines of my muscles with a tentative curiosity that sent shivers down my spine. Each touch felt like a promise—a vow that she wouldn’t turn away this time.

The kiss deepened further; our breaths mingled in ragged gasps as we danced on the edge of something profound.

I could drown in this—drown in her—and for once? I didn’t want to fight it.

I groaned into her mouth, fingers tangling in her hair as she pressed closer, her warmth igniting a fire I thought had long been extinguished. Every kiss felt like a reckless confession, and I wanted to drown in it.

Her hands moved deliberately over my body, mapping me like she was tracing every scar, every wound—every piece of me I’d always tried to hide. I tensed under her touch when her fingers skimmed over my thighs, where the worst scars lay, the ones that still haunted me in the quiet moments when the world was asleep.

I waited for the revulsion. The hesitation that had always come with anyone else who dared to get too close. But it never came.

Instead, she continued exploring, her fingertips gliding over skin marked by pain and rage. My heart raced as I struggled to process what was happening. Each gentle caress felt like a balm to wounds I’d buried deep inside. Her eyes searched mine, filled with an understanding I’d never thought possible.

As she lingered on the jagged edges of my past, I held my breath, half-expecting her to pull away in disgust. But there was no recoil—only acceptance and an intensity that made my pulse quicken.

Why is she not afraid?

Her touch was steady, coaxing me into submission I didn’t know how to embrace. The way she traced each scar sent shivers down my spine—a mix of pleasure and something raw and terrifying. It felt like she was unlocking parts of me that had been locked away for too long.

Holly leaned closer, brushing her lips against my ear as if sharing a secret meant just for us. “You’re beautiful,” she whispered, soft but firm.

The words struck me like a blow to the chest. Beautiful? With all this chaos inside? My mind raced as doubt gnawed at the edges of my consciousness. Did she truly mean it?

But as her fingers continued their exploration—gently brushing against places I’d guarded so fiercely—I felt something shift within me.

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