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Lips parted, my breath catching in my throat, I stared into the depths of his dark green eyes before I tenderly brushed my lips over his.
He pulled back ever so, and his gaze searched out mine. “I really shouldn’t.”
“It’s okay.” My hands moved down his back, over the tight muscles rippling beneath the shirt. I nodded, just enough to signal I was okay.
Responding, his lips claimed mine, and he pushed against me until my shoulders connected against the cool of the patio door. Without a word, I stepped to the side, putting my feet on the warm carpet of the hotel room. Resuming his tantalizing kisses, he guided me backwards until the cotton material of the bed brushed against my calves and slowly, he lowered me onto the cloud-like comforter and stepped back, pulling his t-shirt free of his perfect, muscular body.
For a moment, he just stood there, in a worried hesitation, taking me all in.
Thinking of how inexperienced his first kisses felt, I couldn’t help the thought that popped into my head, and I wasn’t sure how to react if he was. “Is this your first time?”
“Hell, no.” He ran a hand through his hair, a fire burning in his soulful look. “I just can’t get over how beautiful you are. You really are magnificent, Iris.”
I tipped my head down. No man had made me feel this way before. And it wasn’t just lip service before Holden got some action like others had, there was truth ribboned through his words.
“You’re the–”
Holden truly was the whole package. Smarts, personality, and one hell of a hot body.
He leaned down to kiss me, but the kiss had morphed from sweet and innocent-like, to a man in charge and full of passion. The tide had changed, and the shift was palpable.
I was in big, BIG trouble. And so was my heart.
Chapter Twelve
Our kisses deepened, and I sunk into the softness of the bed as Holden pushed himself between my legs, only two thin pieces of cloth separating an intimate and personal connection.
His hands threaded through the tangles of my damp hair as he pressed his tongue into my waiting mouth, dancing, and teasing.
I wanted things to go further, and feeling this hot and bothered, I needed the relief I knew he’d bring. “Holden?”
He dragged tiny kisses along my collarbone. “Mmhmm.”
“Do you have a condom?”
“No.” He stopped his movements, and pulled back a bit to look into my eyes, as shock and disappointment settled in. “Do you?”
I shook my head. This wasn’t planned out. Not at all. Otherwise, I would’ve grabbed a box at our last stop. Or at the gift shop.
Holden lifted himself off me and flopped onto the vacant part of the bed beside me.
“Do you want this to continue?” I asked, searching his face. It didn’t have to end. There were other ways, we could be creative. Oh, so creative.
Without hesitation, he nodded. “But it’s a sign that I shouldn’t.”
“Nonsense. We’re both consenting adults. I can check the gift shop. I’m sure they must sell some.” I shrugged and took a deep breath.
“Then you wait right here, and I’ll go check.” Before I could stop him, he’d grabbed his wallet, his t-shirt off the other bed, and dashed out the door.
Taking a moment to collect my wits and to calm the erratic beat of my heart, I switched on the bathroom light, and left the door open a crack, while turning off the other lights in the room. The soft light was borderline romantic, as much as we could get in a fancy hotel room. Leaving the patio door open for a fresh breeze, I did, however, close the gauzy curtains. Not that anyone could see, but still, I wasn’t about to be on full display. It was enough to let Holden in, and for him to see me with all my scars visible. In preparation, I also removed most of the pillows and rolled down the comforter, making sure the bed was as ready as I was.
Did I make it easy for him, and remove my pajama bottoms, or should I allow him to take them off in a slow seductive way? Or could I recharge the mood by playfully doing a little strip tease? I wasn’t sure what he’d prefer, or which was the right way to go. I didn’t want to be too eager, but he had just run for condoms. Chances were, this was going to be fast. For us both.
A knock sounded on the door, and I whipped my head around.
Holden’s voice came from the other side. “I forgot the key.”
“Coming,” I sang as I skipped over and opened the door.
