Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 83550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83550 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 418(@200wpm)___ 334(@250wpm)___ 279(@300wpm)
She lifts her head again until her gaze can lock on mine. “Scared of what?”
“You,” I admit, my voice barely above a whisper before forcing myself to say the rest. “What you made me feel. By the time I realized I’d made a mistake, it was too late. The damage was done.”
Her eyes widen slightly, a vulnerability I’ve never seen in her, shining back at me. She resettles against me, and my nerves ratchet up with the passing of each silent second that ticks by.
“Holland?” My heartbeat thunders in my ears. “Are you still awake?”
“Yeah,” she says, her voice quiet. “I’m not sure what to say.”
The disappointment that crashes over me is heavy and unwelcome. I’ve never put myself out there like this or dropped my guard when it comes to women. And now, I wish I hadn’t done it with her.
“You don’t have to say anything,” I mutter. “I just wanted you to know.”
The air between us shifts, thickening with something I can’t quite name. Slowly, almost hesitantly, she leans forward and brushes her lips against mine. It’s a featherlight touch that sends a shockwave through my entire body.
Before I can sink into the caress, she pulls back, her cheeks flushing as she lays her head on my chest.
“Thank you,” she whispers, her voice barely audible over the rain.
I wrap my arms around her and hold her close as the storm outside rages on.
Another silence falls over us, and after a while, her breathing evens out. My mind drifts with thoughts of her. Holland is the last person I expected to feel this way about. And yet, as I run my fingers absently through her hair, I realize the only other person I’ve ever been this honest with is FragileLikeABomb.
I’m not sure whether to be comforted or disturbed by the thought. Maybe that’s why I feel so drawn to her. Somehow, in ways I can’t explain, Holland makes me feel the same way Fragile does.
Like I’m seen.
Like I’m known.
And that terrifies me.
19
Holland
The first thing that hits me when I wake is the warmth.
The second is the hard, steady rise and fall beneath me, like I’m lying against a solid, living, breathing furnace. My brain is still foggy with sleep, and it takes a moment to play mental catch up and for the details to sharpen. There are strong arms wrapped around me, a hand resting possessively on my hip, and the faint scent of soap and something that is inherently him.
My eyes snap open to find Bridger Sanderson flat on his back, his annoyingly perfect jawline relaxed in sleep while I’m sprawled across his chest.
I should move before he wakes up.
Instead, I remain perfectly still.
As much as I hate to admit it, I’ve never felt so safe.
Safe in a way I can’t explain.
Safe in a way I haven’t allowed myself to feel in years.
Not since the last time I let my guard down with this guy and got burned for it.
But in the sliver of dawn where the world doesn’t feel so sharp, I let myself indulge in the comfort I’ve found in his arms. My hand slides up his chest, fingers tracing the hard lines of muscle and the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath them.
It’s ridiculously soothing.
My fingers drift lower, brushing along the edge of his ribs, and—
“Enjoying yourself?”
His voice is gravelly, still thick with sleep, and I jerk my hand back, as if burned.
“Maybe.” The response shoots out of my mouth before I can stuff it back inside.
Bridger stretches lazily, his arms extending above his head, and the movement makes his abs ripple.
I should look away but can’t bring myself to do it.
His voice dips, growing even deeper. “Interesting. Go on.”
I glance up at him and search his eyes. His mouth is closer than I realized. “What if we extended our truce? Maybe considered a ceasefire for the time being?”
He stills. “What exactly would that entail?”
The muscles of my belly spasm as thoughts circle through my brain. When I remain silent, unsure how to respond, he rolls us over until he’s fully stretched out on top of me.
A gasp works its way free from me as his hard length nestles against the V between my thighs. That’s all it takes for arousal to pool in my core. It’s been so long since I’ve felt desire like this burn through my body. I don’t realize that I’ve widened my legs until the blunt tip of his cock presses insistently against my center.
“Huh, Holland? What are you suggesting?”
He slides his erection against me, and every thought flies out of my head. It’s impossible to think straight when he does that. The silveriness of his eyes deepens as he repeats the movement. A smirk curves his lips, as if he knows exactly how much he’s able to affect me with the simple caress.