“Tell me the same in twelve hours. We’re still not leaving until tomorrow morning, are we?”
“Nope. You are correct.” The smoldering look was back in his eyes.
“Thanks for telling me why you don’t like reporters. And I’m sorry about your ex. I can’t tell you I’m not willing to do whatever it takes for the truth, though. I have done whatever I need to for a story before, and entering Ms. Mustang Valley is no exception.”
He cupped her face in his hands. “You are nowhere near my ex.” His breath was hot on her skin, making her lips tingle. He laughed and the chuckle vibrated through his chest, which she felt as her arms were braced against his torso. It was longing in the best way, this ache that wrapped around her. “I can’t think about her when I’m looking at you, babe.”
“Holden.” She wanted to say something, let him know that she wasn’t looking for anything other than to explore this insane desire between them. Instead she closed her eyes and wished for the stars.
Please don’t leave me frustrated again.
“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about kis
sing you again. Forgive me for overstepping my professional boundaries, Bella, but I have to have you.” He lowered his lips to hers and just as on the back of the stage, her skin turned hot and her insides melted into liquid want. She reached around his waist, grabbed onto his T-shirt and tugged him as close as the embrace would allow.
Holden’s tongue took every liberty with her mouth that she was willing to surrender. The moans in her throat were impossible to stem, and she almost cried out when he moved his hands lower to her hips and brought her snug against him. His need and response to her was evident and she moved her hips against his erection, needing the contact.
“Babe.” He lifted her as if she was no heavier than the frying pan and placed her on the counter bar. Face-to-face, they looked at one another. His eyes were half-lidded. His hands rested on her thighs, heat searing through her workout bottoms.
“Are you sure, Bella?”
“Definitely.” She leaned forward and pressed her lips to his, licked their outline with her tongue. “Don’t tease me, Holden.” His whiskers scraped against her skin and he fully opened his mouth to her.
Bella reveled in taking the lead, and loved that he let her. But kissing him wasn’t enough. A deep part of her acknowledged that she’d never get enough of Holden St. Clair but she couldn’t spend energy on the thought. Getting up close and the most personal possible with him was everything.
She wriggled her hips until her bottom was all but hanging off the counter edge, and lucky for her Holden let his arms and hands work again. He grasped her cheeks much as he had backstage, but this time, alone, certain of no intrusion by unwanted observers, he lifted her to him, his hands running the length of her hamstrings. She wrapped her legs around him as if they’d done this before, as if they already knew one another as intimately as she longed for.
* * *
Holden finally experienced what he’d suspected. Bella’s skin tasted as sweet as it looked. He took his time, licking, kissing, teasing every inch of her lips and mouth. When she tilted her head back for his access, he buried his head between her breasts and one by one, kissed the very tops of them, to where her tank stretched across her chest.
“That’s positively delightful,” she murmured as he moved his hands over her, down her back, making circles in the two indentations he found at the base of her spine.
“You’re the delight, babe.” He wanted so much from her, wanted to drink from her lips and the hot spot between her legs.
“Mmm.” She leaned up and gave him a playful bite on his neck, and when her tongue flicked out his erection became painful.
“I’m not going to last very long if you keep doing that.” He captured her lips again and moved his tongue against hers until she whimpered her pleasure. Her nipples were visible under her bra and shirt, and it turned him on that he’d done this to her.
“I need to touch you, Bella.” His voice shook with need and for the first time since he’d met her he didn’t care what she thought, how he appeared. All he wanted was this moment, with Bella.
“Touch away.” She trailed more kisses across his jawline.
Tracing the edge of her yoga tights he worked his fingers, then his hand, under her clothing. His pulse pounded in his ears as he felt the soft tufted hair, the heat under his fingers.
“Look at me, babe.”
She opened her eyes and he thrust one, two fingers into her heat.
“Oh. My. Gosh. Holden!” She said his name with such intent he almost lost his control. Instead he focused on her pleasure, moving his fingers, exploring the newness of Bella.
Her gasps and moans led him to her pleasure points, to the rhythm that satisfied her.
“Let go, Bella. Take it.”
She responded with a wiggle of her hips, a cry of passion. Holden had never held a sexier woman in his arms.
* * *