Page 36 of Hold Me Closer
"I'll see what I can do," Emelia says.
"Thanks."
"Jesus," I rumble, staringat Nadia. She's sitting on my doorstep in a little sundress, her hair pulled up in a bun, her head tilted back so the sun hits her face. She looks like a goddamn angel.
"Hey," she whispers, smiling up at me sweetly.
I stumble toward her, unable to take my eyes off her. My heart pounds against my ribcage, beating a frenzy. I feel jittery, nervous energy humming through me in a way it never does when I'm on the field. Out there, shit never really mattered much to me. But this right here? This moment? It's everything.
She's here right now, willing to give me another chance. I've spent so fucking long fantasizing about this day, but I don't think I ever let myself believe it could actually happen. In my mind, I was the reason she almost died, and she knew it too. She fucking hated me for it. How could we ever get to this point after that?
And yet…we're here. She doesn't blame me. I'm not sure I'll ever feel the same way. But hearing her say that shit last night—that she never blamed me, that it wasn't my fault…Christ, I needed to hear that. More than I've ever needed to hear anything.
"I thought you had to be in the studio this afternoon, butterfly." I hold my hand out toward her.
"Brogan decided to get the band back in today," she murmurs, allowing me to pull her to her feet. "So I decided to come here instead." Her teeth sink into her bottom lip, her gaze dancing across my face. "Um, if you have things to do, I can go."
"Fuck no," I growl, pulling her into my arms. "You aren't going anywhere."
"Okay," she whispers, her shoulders drooping with relief, as if she really thought I might tell her that I'm too busy for her. Fuck that noise. I'll never be too busy for her.
My gaze lingers on her pouty lips for a long moment before I groan reluctantly. "I want to kiss you, but there are still camera crews outside the gates."
"I know. Your security people practically had to beat them off with sticks to get them to leave me alone when I got here." She rolls her eyes, huffing adorably. "Did you really have to tell them that we're dating, Teo? They're never going to leave us alone now."
"Yeah, they will. As soon as they find something more interesting to do. Come on." I link our fingers together, pulling her toward the front door. "I talked to my publicist this morning. She said they'll probably dig into our pasts. Once they realize there's nothing interesting to find, they'll go away."
Nadia tenses beside me as we step over the threshold into the house. She doesn't say anything, but I can tell by the look on her face that she's worried. Really fucking worried.
"Hey." I push the door closed, spinning her around to face me. "I already asked her to make sure nothing about the accident gets printed, butterfly. I'm not going to let them dig it up, all right?"
She hesitates for a moment and then nods. For a split second, she looks…haunted, as if there's something she isn't saying. Something burns in her hazel eyes, dulling them. But then she blinks, smiling up at me. The only thing left in those eyes is trust.
Fuck. It's been so long since I saw that.
"Are you going to kiss me now?" she asks.
"Hell yeah," I groan, dragging her into my arms. One hand cups the back of her head. The other cradles her close. Her tits press against my chest, her soft little body snuggled up against mine.
Her lashes flutter, her lips parting on a sigh.
I groan again, brushing my mouth against hers. I want to fucking devour her. But not this time. Not yet. I kiss her softly instead, my lips barely ghosting across hers.
She whimpers my name, going pliant in my arms.
"I've spent the last six years dreaming about kissing you, butterfly," I murmur. "The sweet little sounds you make. The way you press up against me. The way you match every damn move I make…" I flick my tongue against the seam of her lips. "You ruined me for anyone else."
"You r-ruined me too."
"Good," I breathe, pulling her bottom lip into my mouth to suck on it. She whimpers my name, clinging to my shoulders. "I'm glad you waited for me, Nadia. I want all your firsts. I want to be the only one you ever think about." Am I an asshole for that? Probably. But she'll have all of mine, too. She's the only one I've ever wanted. I'm a jealous prick when it comes to her. I always have been.
Even when we were kids, I fucking hated when she paid even the least amount of attention to any guy who wasn't me. I wanted all her time and all of her attention. Apparently, shit hasn't changed since then because I want it just as badly now.
"Teo, please," she whimpers. "Please, kiss me."
I growl, giving in. I lick into her mouth, claiming it as my own. My hand threads through her hair, breaking the band holding it up on top of her head. Long tresses spill down, her peaches scent swirling around us.
Fucking hell. I've missed that smell.
