Holland pulls back just enough to meet my eyes, his palms still framing my face.
“I don’t either. But we’re going to figure it out, together.”
I nod, agreeing with him. “Is this what love feels like?
“What do you mean?” he asks, brows furrowing.
“Like finally finding the one thing you don’t want to lose?”
“Yeah, I think so,” Holland says before kissing me once again.
A loud crash of thunder breaks the moment, and I jump, startles by the loud, unexpected noise. Holland laughs at my response.
“Wanna get out of here?” he asks, smiling down at me.
“Absolutely,” I tell him, and we run toward the parking lot to his car.
Crashing through the front door, we don’t make it two feet before we’re on each other again. Kissing and touching and dripping water all over the floor after being soaked with rain.
Holland’s hands are in my hair, on my body, grabbing at anything he can, and mine match his. It’s like we’ve never felt one another before, and this is the first time we’re being allowed to do so.
A throat clears and breaks us out of our desperate embrace.
“Oh, hey, Ellie… hey Hal,” I stammer, seeing my friends on the couch and cringing at the fact that they both just watched that. Haley gives a little wave, trying to hold back her laughter. Ellie grimaces.
“Can you guys like, get a room?” she asks, covering her face with a blanket.
I nod. “Yeah, yes. We’ll do that.”
Holland chuckles from beside me. I pull him to my room and shut the door behind us. Not even a second in the room, he grabs my face and pushes me up against the door.
His lips crash against mine, the kiss desperate and hungry. I melt into him, my hands tangling in his hair as I kiss him back with equal fervor. His hands slide down my back, pulling me closer, our bodies pressing together as if to erase any trace of the distance that had once separated us.
The kiss deepens, and my heart pounds in my chest. I feel like I’ve run a marathon. When we finally break apart, we’re both breathless. Holland’s gaze is dark with desire, making me shiver. The mix of being soaked and cold are not helping with the adrenaline coursing through my veins.
The air is thick with anticipation, charged with the promise of what’s to come. The world outside seems to fade away, leaving only the two of us alone in my room. Holland moves to pull my sweatshirt over my head, and I begin to undo his belt.
My sweatshirt lands in a wet heap on the floor, followed by my leggings. My fingers tremble a bit as I reach for his shirt and pull it over his head. Holland’s clothes join mine on the floor.
His eyes rake over me, and this time, I don’t feel so vulnerable. I feel like… like he loves me for me. I’ve never felt that before. Having someone love me for who I am, flaws and all. I never thought that was a real thing.
My breath hitches as he steps closer, his hands sliding down my arms, over my waist, and down to my hips. He pulls me against him, our bodies flush, his erection pressing against my thigh.
“You have no idea what you do to me, Barkley,”he murmurs, his lips brushing against my ear, sending shivers down my spine. His hands move to my breasts, cupping them gently, his thumbs brushing over my nipples, already tight and aching for his touch.
I moan softly, tilting my head back as he kisses his way down my neck, his mouth hot and hungry against my skin.
Reaching for him, my hands roam over his chest, his abs. Holland groans, his head falling back for a moment before he captures my lips once again. Our bodies seem to move in sync as Holland guides me back toward the bed, our lips never parting.
He eases me down onto the mattress, following me down, his weight pressing me into the soft sheets. My legs part for him, inviting him closer as my hands pull him down until our bodies are pressed together, skin against skin.
His mouth trails down my body, kissing and nipping at my collarbone, my breasts. His tongue swirls around my nipples, making me arch into him with a soft cry.
“Holland,”I gasp, my hands threading through his hair, holding him close.“Please.”
He looks down at me, his eyes dark with desire, a small smirk playing on his lips.
“Please what?”he teases, his voice low and rough.
