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“Tallie.”

“I mean it. I just want to pretend that none of that happened. I just want it to be you and me. Nothing else. Just for another hour.” I needed to escape in his arms and ignore the anxious feeling that was festering in the pit of my stomach. I needed to touch him, to feel that sense of safety I always felt when I was inhis arms and forget about Sergei and his brothers. “Can you do that? Can you pretend with me?”

In just a blink, he was there,towering over me with a look of lust in his eyes that made me want him even more. I placed the palm of my hand against his cheek as he said, “Yeah, baby. I can do that. But we’re gonna have to face this eventually.”

“I know, and we will.”

His hand slipped behind me, pulling me close to his chest, and when I felt the warmth of his body next to mine, my world stopped spinning. When he leaned over and covered my mouth in a hungry kiss, everything else around seemed to fade away.

The caress of his lips was pure magic. I felt safe in his arms as if nothing in the world could come between us. He pulled me even closer and delved deeper into my mouth. I could feel his heart racing, and it was all I could do not to completely unravel in his arms.

He released my mouth just long enough to look down at me and say, “I can’t lose you again, Tallie. I just can’t.”

“You won’t.” My eyes locked on his as I whispered, “I’m not going anywhere.”

“I’m going to hold you to that,” he whispered, the warmth of his breath caressing my cheek. I could see the longing in his eyes, the same longing I felt deep inside of me.

He studied me for a moment, searching for some kind of confirmation that I wanted this moment as much as he did, and once he found it, his mouth crashed against mine. We both let go of our doubts and just let ourselves get lost in the moment. The tips of his fingers trailed along my spine, and I arched towards him, seeking the heat of his touch.

He continued to kiss me, and I could feel a fire burning deep inside me, smoldering as it spread through my body. The feeling only grew more intense when he reached for the hem of mypajama top. As he pulled it over my head, I felt the palm of his hand linger at my waist, making me shiver with anticipation.

He didn’t move.

He just stood there, staring at me, and when I noticed the passion that?lay?behind his eyes, my pulse pounded harder, roaring in my ears?as he inched closer. I wanted?him?so much. Too much.

Unable to wait a moment longer, I lowered my hands to the waistband of my pajama shorts, and with Holt watching my every move, I lowered them to the floor. I?heard him take in a hastened breath as he reached behind me to remove my?lace?bra.??

Once it hit the floor, his eyes dropped to my breasts,?and?he breathed, “So damn perfect.”

“Holt…,” I pleaded, stealing the last of his restraint. I gasped when he lifted me up, cradling me close to his chest as he carried me over to the bed. He held me tightly, making me feel safe and secure in his arms, then lowered me down onto the mattress.

He stood over me, gazing down at me as he removed his clothes, and he took his time about it. He knew I was watching him. It was impossible not to. He was all muscle, and the tattoos just seemed to accentuate every ripple and curve. His body had always been a thing of beauty, but now, he was no longer a boy. He was all man, and he was mine.

A rush of heat washed over me as he lowered himself onto the bed, covering me with?the warmth of?his body. His mouth dropped to the crook of my neck, and he began trailing kisses down my collarbone.

My desire for this man was running rampant through me, and I was losing what little control I had. It just felt so good. So right. He took my bare breasts in his hands, holding them firmly while brushing his calloused thumbs across the sensitive flesh.

I loved the feel of his hands on my body—every touch had me longing for more.He nipped?and sucked at mysensitive skin before lowering his mouth to the curves of my stomach. I groaned with anticipation when I felt him lower my panties down my legs before settling his head between my thighs.My?legs quivered as his tongue gently raked over my center.

His touch was soft and gentle as he circled my clit,?making my entire body tingle with need. While he?continued to torment?me with his mouth, he eased his fingers inside me, twisting and swirling as he found the spot that caught my breath.

I loved how his hands felt against my skin, so strong and solid, and after just a few moments, I could feel my release approaching, causing me to whimper?as my body tensed and?filled with heat.?He’d always been able to make my body come alive in a way no one else could.

When the sensation grew to be more than I could bear, I twisted my hands in the sheet. I muttered his name over and over?as my orgasm exploded, rocking me to my very core.??I was still in a blissful haze when Holt’s eyes met mine, and he asked, “Am I what you want?”

Unable to even string together coherent words, I nodded, praying that he wouldn’t stop. His voice was stern when he said, “Say the words, Tallie. Tell me you want me.”

His words caught me by surprise, but I knew he meant exactly what he’d said. Without reservation, I whispered, “I want you, Holt. I’ve always wanted you and only you.”

“Good, ‘cause you’re stuck with me. You and Ford aren’t going back to that rat-hole apartment. You’re staying here.”

“What?”

“We’ve already lost too much time. I don’t want to lose another second.” His eyes grew intense. “I want you both here, under my roof. I want you at my table for dinner. I want you in the barn making your pottery. I want to teach the kid to help with animals and how to ride a bike. And don’t tell me no to that,because it’s gonna happen. I want you in my bed at night and when I wake in the morning. I want the dream, Tallie. I want our dream.”

“Oh, Holt. I want it, too. I want it all.”

“That’s good because you’re about to get it. I’m giving you everything you’ve ever wanted. I’m gonna love like no other man could. Every minute of every hour, you will know that you are mine and only mine.”

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