Page 81 of Holden’s Resurrection

“She played me.”

“Oh, yeah, she did. You better toughen up or she’ll run roughshod all over you.”

“Nah.”

“Seriously—"

“Baby, I was joking. I knew she was playing me and I didn’t mind.”

Of course, he’d know Faith’s big, pleading eyes and pout. What scared the hell out of me was, he didn’t mind. In a few short days, Holden had done an about-face.

Faith came skidding back into the foyer and announced, “Ready.”

Neither Holden nor I moved. Our eyes locked and the old Holden was back. The one who didn’t conceal how he felt about me. The man who openly loved me. And when he turned his gentle gaze on Faith, she froze and I knew she saw the difference, too.

Oh, boy, we were in trouble with a capital T and an exclamation point.

Shit.

It wasn’t only my daughter that had fallen—Holden had, too.

“Come on. Let’s go see what your mom made.” Holden gestured to the kitchen.

Faith pulled herself from her stupor enough to nod and woodenly turn toward the kitchen.

I was thinking about what I was going to tell Faith about Holden when he walked past me and stopped.

“Babe, tonight don’t even think about hiding again. Gave you last night to sort yourself. You didn’t take Faith and run. You didn’t tell me to leave. I want you to know I heard every word you said the other night. I’m all-in to prove to you I’m here to stay. But I also felt you, and, Leigh-Leigh, you cannot deny you want me to prove those things to you. Tonight, you’re in my bed and this time you’re staying.”

With that, Holden sauntered off, not giving me a chance to reply. Not that I had anything to say. He was right; I hadn’t run or kicked him out. I also really wanted to stay so he could prove he was the man I’d always thought he was.

“Christ. Your mouth,” Holden growled. “Heaven.”

I smiled around his cock and took him as deep as I could go. My eyes lifted to his and he groaned.

“Up,” he demanded.

I didn’t follow his demand. Instead, I wrapped my hand around his shaft and stroked him while I worked the head of his dick with my tongue. Past experience told me I had approximately ten seconds left to enjoy Holden in my mouth. Ten seconds to drive him crazy with need. The results of my efforts would be otherworldly.

The mere thought of him filling me up made my pussy clench.

“Up,” he repeated, but this time he didn’t give me a chance to obey. His hands went under my pits and he pulled me up over his lap and planted me on his dick.

“Honey,” I groaned.

Holden was sitting with his back to the headboard, making us eye-to-eye, therefore, I didn’t miss the flash of possession in his gaze. His pupils were dilated; inky black ate up most of the light-brown iris. And something about that sent a thrill up my spine. But beyond the possession, there was something bigger than dominance, lust, or passion. There was reverence and adoration. It was in the way he looked into me, not at me. The way his hands shook when he touched me. The way he craved the connection with the same fervor I did. I needed Holden. Not to complete me or make me strong, but because with him by my side, I was happier, more content, brighter. Everything was better when Holden was in my life.

One of his hands left my hip, slowly skimmed up my ribs, and brushed the side of my breast.

“Love when you suck me off, Leigh-Leigh.” Holden’s voice was gruff but his touch was gentle as his finger circled my nipple. “Love seeing all that hair curtain your beautiful face when my cock is in your mouth.” He paused again and studied me as he rolled my nipple between his fingers. My inner muscles clenched around his cock and my skin heated. “Fuckin’ love seeing those pretty lips wrapped around me.” Holden lowered his head and I lost his eyes, but when he gently kissed away the sting of his pinch, my hips bucked. “But, baby, I finish in your pussy. Ride me, Leigh-Leigh.”

“Holden,” I cried out when he sucked my nipple back into his mouth.

I had more to say. I wanted to tell him how good it felt to be connected to him. How much I loved him. How good he made me feel with just a look and a smile. But I didn’t say the words, I couldn’t speak as I rocked my hips and ground down on him until my head felt too heavy and it dropped forward and my hands dove into his hair. It was softer than it looked, silkier than I’d imagined, just long enough I could grab a fistful.

Holden’s mouth left my nipple long enough for him to grunt his pleasure.

“Harder, Leigh-Leigh.” His hands on my ass squeezed, his fingertips dug in to the point of pain, and he drove his cock up as I slid down. “Fucking hell. Beautiful.”