Gently, she touched the skin, her chest rising on a deep inhale.
When a figure appeared behind her, she gasped, only for the air to rush out of her when she recognized Holden. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
“Sorry. Your door was ajar and I wanted to check on you.” He stood behind her, dwarfing her as he looked at her neck. Fury flashed over his face before he lightly grazed her skin right where her fingers had just been. His touch was gentle and warm. “I hate that you got hurt.”
“I got off fairly lightly compared to Malcolm and Scarlett.”
Holden growled. “You shouldn’t have been in danger at all.” He lowered his head and kissed her shoulder. “The thought of someone hurting you kills me.”
A shiver ran down her spine.
He kissed her neck this time. It was so light that it felt like a whisper over her skin. “I need you safe.”
“Safety’s never guaranteed.”
He paused, maybe because he knew she wasn’t just talking about the kind of safety that came from external factors.
Then he kissed her again. “I will do everything in my power to protect you. But if I can’t, if the enemy is some kind of sickness, then I’ll look after you in every other way. I’m not going anywhere.” He said the last four words slowly, like he knew she needed them said emphatically.
“You won’t run?”
He gripped her hips and looked up at her in the mirror, fire in his eyes. “Never again.”
She believed him.
He kissed her again. Her eyes shuttered and all she could do was feel him. The strength of his body against her back. The power in his hands as he held her. And the softness of his kisses up her neck.
She tilted her head, giving him more access. Her fingers threaded through his hair, and when she turned to look at him, their gazes held for a split second before his mouth claimed hers.
She groaned, leaning into him as he slipped his tongue between her lips. Humming at the feel of his hands trailing over her body. She closed a hand over his and guided it toward her breast. When he cupped her, he growled, a low, deep sound that shot straight between her legs.
He found her nipple and grazed it back and forth, making her insides turn molten.
When he released her breast, she wanted to protest. But then his hands went to the hem of her shirt and she lifted her arms to help him. Once the shirt was off, he immediately unclasped the button of her jeans. Every time his fingers grazed her belly, her skin burned.
When she only wore a bra and panties, he lifted her and set her on the counter before stepping between her thighs. She removed his shirt and jeans just as quickly as he’d dealt with hers.
As she pushed his pants down, his mouth returned to her neck. He stepped out of his jeans, but his entire focus remained on Clara as he flipped down the cup of her bra and took one nipple between his lips.
She gasped, her head flying back, and pulled at his hair…as her fingers played over the strength in his shoulders.
He was everything. And he made her burn for him.
As he sucked her nipple, she writhed against him. Needing more, she reached down and slipped her hand inside his briefs.
His muscles tensed, and she wrapped her fingers around his length, not missing the sharp, masculine gasp that cut through the air.
She moved her hand up and down, exploring and feeling and loving him.
“What do you do to me?” he growled.
She reached up with her other hand and cupped his nape, bringing his mouth back to her. As she did, she guided his cock toward her entrance before sliding her panties to the side.
“Clara—”
“I’m ready for you, Holden. I’ve been ready for you for so long.”
His eyes were all fire. Slowly, he slipped inside her. Filling her. Loving her. Giving her everything.
