Page 8 of Ring in the New Year

Angela felt Holden's chest rise and fall under her cheek, the steady beat of his heart a comforting drum in the silence that enveloped them. His hands roamed her back in languorous caresses, as if he were memorizing every contour of her skin. In those touches, Angela discovered a tenderness she hadn't known him capable of, a gentleness that contradicted his on-screen persona.

They lingered in the haze of satisfaction, the warmth of their entwined forms a cocoon against the chill of the lab. Angela was acutely aware of how his muscles relaxed beneath her, the tension that had once defined him melting away into something soft and pliable. It was in this unguarded moment that Angela recognized a kindred spirit, someone else who knew what it meant to be seen but not known.

"Dr. Prescott?"

"Yes, Mr. Tighe?"

"Science aside, you can't tell me that was purely academic."

"Well, I kinda stopped taking notes after the second orgasm."

He chuckled. The feel of it made something in her chest tighten and then loosen. But what he said next had her heart skipping a beat.

"I wouldn't object to repeating the experiment again."

CHAPTER SEVEN

"Your loft?"

"Yeah, we can't take this study session back there," Holden said casually, pushing off from the Angela's desk to stand tall before her. "It's quiet, comfortable, and we can work undisturbed through the three-day weekend."

"I don't know..." Angela cocked an eyebrow. He could see the wheels turning in her head. He wanted to know what she was thinking.

"Do you have family plans for the holidays?"

New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day were over the weekend this year. To compensate, most businesses were closed on Monday.

Angela averted her gaze. "No, I don't have family plans."

He leaned in closer, the warmth of his breath brushing against her ear as he confided, "I don't really do the whole festive family thing either. Got disowned when I took up a career in the adult film industry."

Her eyes met his again. There was a connection there, but Holden didn't know exactly what the new ties were made of.

"Okay," Angela conceded. "Let's go to your loft."

Five minutes later, they stepped out into the crisp winter air. The Chicago streets were alive with the holiday spirit left over from Christmas. Sparkling lights hung like constellations above them while the scent of roasted chestnuts wafted from nearby vendors. Holden felt Angela's arm loop through his as they navigated through the crowd, her body heat seeping into him like a promise of what was to come.

"It's like walking through a Christmas card."

"Except you're with a guy who's more used to being on a 'naughty' list than a nice one."

"Maybe naughty can be nice for a change," Angela shot back, her dark eyes twinkling mischievously under the holiday lights.

Holden's heart thrummed with anticipation. Indeed, this holiday season promised to be anything but conventional. He felt the crunch of fresh snow under his boots, a rhythmic counterpoint to the pulsing energy of Angela's laughter as they threaded between throngs of holiday revelers. The city glowed with a festive luminescence that cast an almost magical sheen over everything. He stole a glance at her, her cheeks flushed from the cold—or perhaps from the anticipation.

"Acting was my first love," Holden began, his voice low and tinged with a hint of nostalgia as they paused beneath the amber glow of a street lamp. "My folks, they loved watching me on stage back in high school. But when I decided to take it seriously, go full time... well, let's say their applause faded."

"So you turned to modeling?" Angela prompted, her breath a misty cloud in the chill air.

He nodded, the memories sharp and clear as the icicles hanging from nearby shop awnings. "Yeah, catalog modeling. Then nude modeling. Eventually, naked acting was the next logical step. Money got tight, and honestly, I enjoyed it—at first."

They resumed walking, the silence between them filled with the unspoken recognition of shared vulnerability. Thenight sparkled around them, the twinkling lights reflecting off Angela's dark hair like stars caught in a sable net.

"My family's sailing the Caribbean right now," Angela revealed suddenly, her tone casual but her words weighted with significance. "Didn't even bother inviting me. My parents are both scientists, and they can't fathom why I'd waste my brain making toys."

"So we're a pair, aren't we? Your parents don't respect what you do with your mind. Mine couldn't handle what I did with my body."

"Yeah," she said, lacing her gloved fingers through his.

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