Page 16 of Holding Holly

We want each other. Badly.

If we’re together every moment that we aren’t working, I don’t know how much longer I’ll be able to hold out.

More to the point, I’m positive Holly doesn’t want me to.

8

HOLLY

Ican’t believe this is really happening.

James hauls the groceries and my bags into his house as I follow him, looking at the house with fresh eyes while we slip off our boots and coats.

We put away the groceries but I’m too tired to cook anything elaborate, so we just make some quick sandwiches. James seems to understand. As always.

He rummages around in a kitchen drawer, then clips some keys together on a metal acorn keyring. “Square is the truck, the rounded one is the front door, and the weird gold one is the garage.”

What kind of man just hands over access to a vehicle and his home when he’s only known you for five days? Apparently, a man who is unbelievably kind. Not to mention, obviously seriously into me.

“Thank you.” My voice cracks. “I really appreciate this.”

“Hey.” His thick, warm arms wrap around me. “This is a lot to take in. We don’t have to rush anything. If it turns out that staying with me is too much too soon, we’ll make other arrangements after the holidays, okay?”

My chin tips up as I smile. “You always know exactly what to say. Thank you.”

The faint smile lines around his eyes deepen as he grins. “I want to be a good boyfriend for you, Holly.” Soft lips brush the tip of my nose. “Am I allowed to use that word yet, or no? I’m good either way.”

It’s not just the way he leaves decisions up to me. It’s the way he holds me, stroking my back, fiddling with my hair. Keeping things both intimate and light.

James is well balanced. Mellow. A trail of green flags a mile long – even though he’s more than ten years older than me. Does he even notice that technically I’m a bit young for him? That as the face of the law in town, he shouldn’t be dating an outsider from a sketchy family? That I’m – oh dear – not the wholesome woman he should end up with?

No. I don’t want to follow that logical train of thought. My heart and body jump the rails onto the track I really want to explore instead. My fingers trace slow, looping patterns along his short beard and the side of his neck. “If you think it’s accurate, sure.”

His warm eyes glow. “I do.” A soft, gentle kiss makes my knees tighten, but then he pulls away. “I’ll show you the bedrooms.”

At the end of the hall, he pushes open the door to his room – a large, tidy, slightly austere space done in navy and dove gray. The door across the hall opens to reveal a small guest room with cream walls and sage green bedding.

“I want you to sleep wherever you’re comfortable, Holly. There’s no right or wrong answer, okay?”

Not only does my heart line itself up on this new track, it kicks my logical mind right off the rails. I want him, and I love the way he wants me. The way he is so incredibly open about his desires, yet squarely focused on giving me everything I want or need.

Frankly, I feel spoiled rotten for the first time in my life. And it’s kind of sexy…no idea why.

More importantly, my body and soul are on fire whenever we’re together alone. Why is there any reason not to give in to the things I’ve been feeling from the second we met?

Spinning on my heel, I go back to the front hall, grab my bags, and set them on the guest room bed. Then I turn to James with a wicked grin. “Why don’t I use this as my dressing room, so I don’t mess up your bedroom closet…and we can sleep in there?”

His mouth is on mine before I can even take another breath. Strong hands lift me slightly, dragging me into his room where we fall onto the bed together. Laughing and kissing, we cuddle while exploring each other. I yank on his shirt until it’s untucked and unbuttoned, slowly letting my palms wander all over his chest. He pulls off my long-sleeved t-shirt, leaving me in just a tank top.

My purple socks make him laugh as he takes them off, tossing them onto a chair. Then my giggle turns to a gasp when his teeth graze my collarbone, his hands kneading my breasts as he kisses under my ear.

Stifling the moans that bubble up my throat is too difficult so I stop trying, letting him know just how sensitive my nipples are as he skims his thumbs across my skin. How does he already know how to make me melt? How to read my body language so perfectly?

Maybe…the delicious thought spirals around my spine, making me gasp as he kisses my throat tenderly… Maybe there’s a chance that he’s the one for me. That we could truly be a couple.

And even if this isn’t forever, we have tonight. I can’t imagine sharing my first time with anyone else.

James gradually removes every scrap of my clothing, pulling the fabric slowly across my skin. I do the same, my movements more awkward than his, and then my eyes grow wide as I openly stare at his naked body. Every sculpted muscle. Every taut, thick limb – including the one between his legs that is so hard it looks like it must be painful.

---