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Holden’s eyes never left mine as he positioned himself at my entrance. “If at any time you need to stop, tell me.”
“I promise.”
Pressure filled my core as he slid into me. “I know my feelings are ahead of yours, but I love you, River. From the moment I saw you, I knew you owned my heart.”
Tears streamed down my cheeks as he gently eased in and out of me, and he kissed them away. “River, you’re the light in my world ...”
Holden’s gentle words were a healing salve to my broken soul. No one had loved or cherished me as much as he had. He continued to move in a sweet, slow rhythm. I ran my hands over the dips and valleys of his muscular back and hiccupped through my tears.
He paused and shuddered. “I’m sorry. It’s been a while, and it’s more intense than I anticipated.” He leaned his forehead against mine. “What they say is true, though. Sex is so much better when you love the person that you’re with.” With a strong thrust, he groaned. “Jesus. You feel so good.”
I lifted my hips, encouraging him to continue as I dug my fingernails into his ass cheeks. Our bodies rocked in sync, my climax stirring deep inside me.
I nipped at his shoulder, then his ear. “I love you inside of me, Holden.”
His lips claimed mine and my mouth melted into his, moaning as his hot tongue explored me.
Jolts of pleasure rippled over me, and I whimpered. I broke our kiss. “Baby, oh God.” I rocked against him, picking up the pace. The world stopped as I shattered, drowning in waves of intense pleasure, coming apart and being made whole at the same time.
“You’re so goddamn beautiful when you come.” His thrusts quickened as he pushed into me two more times before he came, my name on his lips as he released.
Holden relaxed on top of me and kissed me as I wrapped my arms around him. “Thank you,” I whispered.
He lifted his head. “For what?” Love and awe filled his expression.
“For replacing those awful memories with something I’ll cherish for the rest of my life.” Even as the words filled the air, I realized there wasn’t anything I could say that could help him understand the gift he’d given me.
“You don’t have to tell me until you’re ready, but I love you so much. I haven’t ever felt this way about anyone before.” Holden kissed the tip of my nose, then pulled out of me. “I’ll be right back.”
I grinned like a fool as he strolled into the bathroom. The sound of water running filled the otherwise quiet room. He returned with a washcloth and carefully cleaned me up. As stupid as it sounded, that act felt more intimate than the sex we’d had.
The floor creaked as Holden headed toward the clothes hamper in the closet.
“Holy shit!” a male voice said from the doorway of the bedroom.
My scream split the air as I struggled to cover myself.
Before I realized what happened, Holden barreled across the room and shoved Jace backward. “Don’t fucking look at her!” Then he slammed the door in Jace’s face.
“Why is he here?” I scrambled to find my clothes, but then I remembered they were downstairs.
“God dammit. I never lock the doors, and they’re used to walking into the house unannounced.” Holden’s head hung down. “Are you okay?”
“Just startled. Plus, he saw me naked.” Heat dusted my cheeks as I tugged the comforter up to my neck.
Holden sat down on the bed next to me, the mattress dipping slightly beneath his weight. “You have my word that no one will ever touch you without your permission again. If Jace, Chance, or anyone else lays a hand on you, I’ll destroy them.” Fierce protectiveness rolled off him in waves.
“Do you think he would?” My forehead creased in confusion.
“No, but you need to understand that I’ll never let anything happen to you.”
Even though I knew that his words were too big of a promise for him to ever be able to keep, I lied to myself anyway and anchored his words in my heart.
Chapter Twenty-Five
“Oh my God. This feels so weird.” I looked at Holden, then walked slowly with my new cane. I was surprised at how much lighter my leg was once the cast had been removed.
“It’s only for a few weeks,” Holden assured me, his hand on my lower back as we entered the house through the front door. He quickly locked it and set the alarm. “I let everyone know they have to text and use the doorbell from now on.” A sheepish grin spread across his handsome face.
