Page 86 of Sunrise & Serenity

My throat closes before I can force the words out.

“Holden—”

I shake my head to stop her, the tenderness in her voice twisting me up inside. The wind whistles outside the barn, but inside, everything suddenly feels too close. Too warm. Too damn honest. “It’s been a long day, City. We should get some sleep.”

Her lips turn up. “So we’re back to City now, are we? What a shame. I think I prefer sweetheart.”

I stare at that mouth of hers, the temptation to kiss her a sudden, urgent beat in my blood. But I hold on to my control with every ounce of willpower I’ve got. “It’s been a long day, sweetheart,” I growl. “Go to sleep.”

I savor her soft laugh and the way she rolls over, nestling against my chest again, all without letting go of my hand.

I like it more than I should.

Turns out I prefer “sweetheart,” too.

CHAPTER 22

SAGE

My toes are cold. Still half asleep, I turn in Holden’s arms, snuggling into his warmth and tucking my feet close to his legs.

Rain still taps against the roof of the barn, but the sound is much softer now, and I have no idea what time it is. Strangely enough, I’m happy keeping it that way.

Being wrapped in Holden’s arms feels better than it has any right to.

My heart ached for him after our conversation about his mom. I half expected that thinking about it would keep me awake, but I barely remember closing my eyes before sleep claimed me.

Now, I press my ear to his chest, letting the strong, steady thump of his heartbeat soothe me. It’s almost enough to send me back to sleep.

Almost.

Because a memory of him stripping last night intrudes. The way he walked toward me, broad-shouldered and toned, with a bulge impossible to ignore beneath his black boxer briefs.

Then I remember the way he growled the word sweetheart, and I shiver.

Holden pulls me closer. “Cold?”

Tipping my face up to his, I find his eyes open, watching me. I swallow. “A little.” There’s no way I’ll tell him that the shiver has nothing to do with the cold and everything to do with him. “How long have you been awake?”

“Haven’t been asleep yet.” His deep voice rumbles through me where I’m pressed against him.

“Is it me? Am I making you uncomfortable?” I pull back, trying to disentangle myself from him.

His arms tighten around me, pinning me in place. “It’s not you. Now quit moving and warm up.”

I go lax, pressing closer. That’s when I feel him, long and hard, brushing my stomach through the jacket I’m still wearing. I suck in a breath.

“Stop wriggling, and it’ll go away,” he grunts.

My heart thrashes against my ribcage as heat floods through me. Is this why he hasn’t slept?

My breathing sounds too loud in my ears, nearly drowning out the background noise of the rain. I’m flooded with memories of the kiss we shared, my nerve endings lighting up as I replay the way I ground against him, desperate for more.

The logical part of my brain—the part reminding me that getting any more involved with Holden than necessary is a bad idea—seems to have taken a leave of absence, because all I can hear now is Mia telling me I’m allowed to want something that’s just for me, not for my career.

And god, I can’t think of anything I want more right now than the man holding me.

My voice is husky when I reply. “What if I don’t want it to go away?”