Page 42 of Unsteady in Love

Pulling away, Holden nipped my bottom lip and then proceeded to lick and suck down the column of my neck and then back up to my ear. “Fuck Prue, you taste so damn good.”

“So do you,” I moaned as his tongue twirled around my earlobe. “You’re so much more.”

My nails scraped along his scalp as I ground myself against him. Not even thinking about how we were in a hospital room and someone might walk in on us.

“Oh God, I feel like a teenager.” I bit down on his shoulder to hide my moan. “I need your mouth.”

His lips came back to mine, swallowing my pleasure as I rode out my orgasm on his leg.

My hand slowly snaked down his body, getting acquainted with muscles that weren’t there years ago. My passion reignited with each ridge and ripple I explored. As my hand moved underneath the covers, a firm hand stopped my movement.

“Prue,” he warned.

My eyes flew up to see his face tight.

“Let me touch you,” I coaxed.

“Not today.”

27

PRUE

Holden growled,pulled my hands away from his body, and threw his head back against his pillow. It had been a week since he’d let me see him, and so far, he hadn’t pushed me away except physically. We’ve been like two teenagers dry humping in their parents’ home except in a hospital room. Well, I was the one humping him, and he let me have my way until I tried to move my touching south of the border. Each and every time, he would growl my name and pull my hands away. I couldn’t figure out why, and the one time I tried to ask him, I got the silent treatment, so I let it go for the time being.

I knew he wanted me. I could feel as his hard length poking me through his sweatpants, yet every time I made any attempt to touch him, he pulled away.

“You should probably head out to check on Atticus.” He leaned over and kissed my temple as if that would help ease the sting of his rejection.

“In a little bit. I love Atticus, but I only get to spend so much time with you.”

Holden made me leave every time someone came in to look him over, and after the first couple of times when he didn’t want to do anything but stare out the window afterwards, I learned to leave him to himself.

I couldn’t imagine what he was going through, and I knew it was a lot to come to terms with, but it killed me each time he shut down on me. Each time, I feared he’d push me away again, but I still had faith.

“You need to start taking better care of yourself, Prue. You’re too skinny. You’ve lost more weight since the beginning of the year. Grab yourself a big, juicy hamburger or a pizza.”

“How about I do that and bring you something back too? You’ve got to be tired of hospital food.”

I knew I needed to eat more and gain back the weight I’d lost, but it was hard when I was constantly worried. His gaze flicked over my face before he looked out the window. Fuck, he was retreating into himself again, and I hated it. I desperately wanted to make him talk to me but knew that wasn’t the answer.

“What’s wrong?” My fingertip traced along the tattoo that ran along the length of his arm.

Sighing, he blinked and looked back at me with a raw determination. I knew instantly whatever it was, I wasn’t going to like it. “I think you should go home. Back to Fairlane.”

“But I don’t want to go without you.”

“Prue, I don’t want to hurt you anymore, and I know that I am.” One hand clasped mine and squeezed. “I see how much it hurts when I can’t talk to you. I hate to do this to you, but I need to do this on my own.”

“But…”

“I need to do this my way. To keep my pride.” He looked up at me with his puppy dog eyes, and I knew I’d give him what he wanted, even if I didn’t want to. “It might not make sense to you.”

“It doesn’t. I want to be here with you, to support you. I never meant to wound your pride.” I teared up.

“Baby, you didn’t wound my pride. I’m doing that all on my own. I hate you seeing me stuck in this bed. Once the rest of my body heals, my therapy is going to start, and I’m going to get fitted for my prosthetic. I don’t know how to make you understand except to tell you that this is what I need to do. I have to do this by myself.”

“I hate your pride.” I pouted.

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