Page 71 of Healed Hearts

“Next time, you’ll touch me, right?”

I can almost feel his grin, even though I can’t see it. “Yes, darlin’. Next time, I’ll touch you. I’ll do whatever you want.”

“Okay,” I whisper, closing my eyes. His soft touch on my back almost has me asleep when a thought pops into my head. “Can we go get tested? I don’t want to use condoms from now on.”

“I’d like that,” he murmurs, his hands slowing their strokes, his breathing evening out.

“I love you,” I whisper, needing to say it again, needing him to hear it.

“Mmm. I love you too.”

Chapter Twenty-Four

Julian

When I wake up, Holden is already awake, sprawled across my chest while he scrolls on his phone.

“Good morning,” I rasp, bringing my hand up to his hair.

“Good morning to you,” he says, raising up to grin at me.

“Been awake long?”

“Nah, few minutes. Ro and Beck want to know if you wanna go on a double-date for dinner tonight. I told them I wasn’t sure what our plans were.”

“Yeah, we can do that.” Truthfully, I want to spend more time with them. They’re important to Holden, and that makes themautomatically important to me. Plus, they’ve already claimed my kid as one of their own, which is more than any of my friends ever did. It’s been lonely the last three years, if I’m being honest. I’m not used to having people around that not only want to spend time with me, but don’t seem to hate that I have a kid in tow.

“Great. Are we picking Wren up first?” Holden asks. It’s impossible to miss the excitement in his voice at the prospect.

“No, she’s staying with Ruby and Henry for the weekend.”

His face falls. “What the hell. Do they steal her all the time like that?”

I shrug, grinning at his crestfallen expression. “Yeah, kind of. She’s the last piece of Maya. I’d never deny them the chance to see her. Besides, they’re amazing grandparents. And Wren loves them.”

“Ugh. No, I know that. It just sucks. I miss her.” His bottom lip comes out in a little pout and I lean forward to kiss it away, butterflies floating around in my stomach at how much he loves Wren and enjoys spending time with her.

“I’m sure she misses you too.”

“I am her Holden, after all,” he responds, a pleased grin on his gorgeous face.

“That you are, darlin’. Had us both hooked from day one.”

He giggles and rests his head back against my chest, his fingers absently toying with my nipple in a way that is entirely too distracting. My cock thickens against his hip. He notices instantly, squirming around, which doesn’t help at all. He tugs and pulls on the little bud of flesh, twisting it between his finger and thumb. Little pulses of pleasure tingle through my body, landing in my cock. I let out a soft moan at the sensation, and Holden echoes it with a moan of his own, his dick hardening against my stomach.

“I really enjoyed last night,” he says, fingers still toying with my nipple.

“Me too,” I whisper, breathless from even the slightest bit of stimulation from his body.

“Would you try being on top? Not like actually topping me, but just being physically on top of me?” he asks, raising his head to look at me.

“Sure, as long as you promise you’ll stop me if you feel scared.”

“Okay. I promise,” he says, rolling off me and spreading out on his back. Oh, does he mean right now? He arches a brow at me. I guess he does.

“Now?” I ask, needing to clarify, just in case. The last thing I want is to trigger him.

“Yes.”

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