Page 72 of Tracing Holland

“No,” I mumble from my stupor, amused by the random question.

“Yep.Chef Holland.Has a ring to it, don’t you think?”

“Babe, your name is Holland.No matter what you do it would have a ring to it.Dr.Holland.President Holland.Tracing Holland.”

She adjusts her position so she’s facing me, and I open my eyes to meet her.

“I love music, Luke.I love what I do, but I could have done something else.I could have been a chef, or a doctor, or anything, really, and the world would have been the same.”She pauses, studying me with an intensity that always captivates me.That intelligence behind her eyes.That grasp of life.“But not you.You had to be a musician.There was no choice.”

I grin.“Well, that’s good, because I’m not good at anything else.”

She doesn’t smile, still considering, still searching my eyes.“No, that’s not what I mean.I’m not talking about your job or career.I’m talking about history.I’m talking about the way your music changes the people it touches.The world needs it, Luke.It needs your gift.”

My smile fades as her words overwhelm me.I don’t know what to do with them.I don’t know how to return something so beautiful, so precious.Instead, I find myself doing the only thing I can, giving her my heart with a kiss that unhinges both of us.

A moment ago I was ready to fall asleep and now every cell in my body is blazing with life.I can barely hear the TV blaring behind us as I lean over her, our kiss intensifying from sweet to all-consuming.Every muscle in my body tenses, straining with hunger for this woman, and when she rips at my shirt, I help yank it over my head.Her impatient hands climb my arms, my bare chest, wrapping around my neck and forcing me into her.She can’t get enough, and neither can I when she tortures me further by shrugging off her own clothes.

There is nothing gentle about our contact now.We are fighting for each other, our bodies colliding in that natural rhythm that makes you forget your own existence.She’s all there is at this moment.Holland Drake.Beautiful.Talented.Compassionate.Driven.Honest.And completely mine, for no reason I will ever understand.

Her hands grip my hair, pulling me toward her with the same force pushing me.We’re completely lost now as I explore her, drawn to every curve, every addictive gasp from her lips that vibrates through me as she reacts to my touch.My mouth finds hers again as she fights the button on my jeans, just wrecking me when she wins.Her merciless grasp only makes me burn hotter, destroying my ability to focus on anything but her.I can’t even think straight.

We own each other.We need each other.

“Please tell me you brought protection,” she breathes, and I grin against her lips.

“Front section of my suitcase.”

“Good.Go!”

I need no more encouragement and love that she can’t even wait for me to return.She follows me, nearly driving me to distraction before dragging me back to our desperate contact the second I succeed.Her perfect body is fully exposed now as she pulls me on top of her.She’s a dream.She has to be.

“Have I ever mentioned how gorgeous you are?”I murmur, almost paralyzed when her beautiful eyes search mine.But we’re in no state for words, and drive back into each other with renewed desperation.This time, I’m ready for the assault on my nerves and surrender to every thud of my pounding blood.It’s blistering through my veins now, consuming me, propelling me toward her with an urgency she meets in an agonizing, magnificent, mutual ache.I’m completely abandoned to her.

Her groans, her reckless grip, is gasoline for the fire I already can’t control, and I find myself obsessed with taking her wherever she wants to go, with making myself the only presence in her universe.I want her to explode, to make her body plead for mine.To draw her to another place, another level of ecstasy.She’s as wrecked as I am, I can see it, sense it in every arch, every surrender of her trembling form.It’s devastating my own.I can’t think, I can’t breathe.I just have to be part of her.

“Luke…” she can’t speak as another gasp takes her breath away, then another, but I don’t need guidance.I understand this woman.Every line, curve, and cell just makes sense to me.She pulls hard, her hips begging with a force that unleashes everything left of the explosive power reserved for her, this one woman I never saw coming.She meets me in perfect harmony, just as lost as I am.Both of us completely annihilated by the volatile connection.Beautiful, dangerous, breathtaking.

I’m still fighting for air as we finish and I gaze into her face, so beautiful in that moment I can’t look away.She grins, releasing a content sigh that echoes deep into my soul.

“Ok, wow,” she whispers, curving her hands around my arms as I balance over her, still staring in awe.

I return her grin and give her another kiss.

“Hang on.I have to just stare at you for a moment,” she says with a sly look, and I laugh.

“Um…”

She pulls my head down and kisses me again.“Sorry.It’s that stupid Pavlovian thing!”

I grin, and collapse on the mattress beside her, completely content for one of the first times I can remember.We’re quiet for a long time as we lie close, but it’s not awkward, just perfect peace after the raging storm.

“You’re getting better, you know,” she teases after a moment, interrupting the formerly pleasant silence.

My gaze shoots over to her in disbelief, and she laughs at my expression.

“I’m kidding!”Her eyes dance as she takes my hand and brings it to her perfect lips.

I shake my head with a grin.“You really know how to give a guy a complex, I swear.”

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