Bella gasped for breath, unable to do anything but rely on Holden’s strength as he held her against the counter. The orgasm had rocked her, and he’d only used his fingers.
What was it going to be like when they were joined?
“Your room?” He kissed the base of her neck next to her shoulder and she melted against his erection.
“Yes.”
“Condoms?”
“Yes.”
They continued kissing as he slowly walked her across the kitchen and down the short hall to her bedroom. She slid down his body as her legs lowered to the floor, hanging on to his neck while his arms supported her, kept her from crashing.
With little fanfare they both disrobed until they stood in front of each other completely naked. Her gaze soaked in his muscular edges, the scars on his ribcage, the patch of hair over his sex. He’d driven her to an erotic point she’d never been before. There was nothing but this moment with Holden.
“I’ll get, get the—”
“Wait. Let me look at you.” He was breathing heavily, but stilled long enough to grasp her hands, to drink her in. His gaze trailed heat along her face, down her throat, across her breasts. As it lowered, her desire rose, and she didn’t think it could become more insistent. “You’re beautiful.”
“You, too.” Her voice was as hoarse as his, and they hadn’t done a whole lot more than kiss yet. Her body shook with need, and she was glad the wanting was stronger than what lay under her passion.
Fear. Fear of the ferocity of their connection. No lovemaking had ever affected her like this before.
“Where are the condoms?” He was moving toward her nightstand, and at her nod he opened the drawer and took out her box of condoms, the box she’d only opened last night.
“Lie on the bed, Bella.” He donned the condom with ease and waited for her to lie down, which she did with relief. Her trembling knees weren’t going to support her much longer.
Holden knelt over her, his knees coming to rest between her legs, and his forearms supported him on either side of her head. She tried to think of something funny to say to break the moment but words failed her. She, the writer, blogger, investigative reporter, was at a loss for words as she was about to make love to a man she’d only met two days ago, yet didn’t know how she’d lived without him until now.
When he continued to look at her, she smiled and reached her arms around his neck. “I can’t take it anymore, Holden. Please, please take me.” She tugged on his neck and she watched him lower his head, watched until his lids covered his eyes and she, too, closed her eyes.
It was all feeling now. Lips against lips, tongues wrapping and touching, skin against skin. The rough calluses on his palms ran paths down the outside of her thighs as he lowered his erection onto her, and then with one last deep kiss, plunged into her.
“Oh!” The intimate contact knocked the air from her lungs, sent tingling sensations across her skin down to her toes. It was so very, very good with Holden. Delicious.
“Hang on, babe.” Holden began to move, first filling her fully and then pulling back no farther than he had to, to her great gratitude. She needed him inside her, to never leave, to keep the rolling wave crashing against the sands of her heart.
“Holden!” She couldn’t stop the climax that hit her, but it wasn’t enough for him. He kept moving, then reached his hand between them to touch her in the most perfect spot until she experienced an orgasm unlike any other.
“Bella.” Holden cried out her name, joining her in the exquisite pleasure.
Bella wanted to hear him say her name again and again.
Chapter 15
Bella left Holden as he dozed atop her sheets and dove into the bathroom for a quick shower. It was enough time, though, to collect what was left of her thoughts. The sex with Holden had been so much more than she’d imagined, and definitely more than she’d bargained for. Electric, elemental, primal.
Life altering.
Do not go there.
She couldn’t. There was the pageant, Gio’s honor and a killer that Holden was after. Probably another criminal, too, if some of the attacks turned out to be those of a lesser villain. Maybe everyone who made it to be a contestant was put under surveillance. She’d have to ask Spencer about it later. He might not be able to reveal anything about an ongoing investigation but he could let her know what petty crimes had occurred during Ms. Mustang Valley in years past, couldn’t he?
She opened the bathroom door and found Holden still stretched out on the bed in all of his sexiness. Her body immediately reacted and she forcefully focused on the exit.
“I’ll be in my office.” She gave Holden a quick smile before she left and went into the other bedroom that she’d converted into her writing space when she purchased the place over five years ago. She had to get out of her bedroom, away from Holden’s naked bod, or she’d never check in to the videoconference session.
Would that disqualify her from the pageant?