And he let me kiss him. His cheeks. His forehead. And he didn’t back away when I ran my hands through his hair.
When we open the door to Holland’s, Slate picks his head up, barks and runs over. We both give him some attention while we take our shoes off.
When Slate is satisfied, he goes back to his bed. Holland stands at the foot of the stairs, reaching a hand out for me. I take it and we go up to the loft.
We move around each other, getting ready for bed like we’ve done this a hundred times. It helps that this bathroom is spacious. Hazel’s bathroom. She designed this thinking she’d live here. Probably forever.
Holland’s routine is shorter than mine, so he kisses my cheek on his way out.
While washing my face, thoughts of Hazel consume me. About Holland’s pain. How he had another life before this. While I put on my moisturizer, I wonder what kind of person Hazel was. Did she build thismassive counter for all her skincare or makeup? Did she happen to just like the space? I put on my pajamas and go back to the bedroom.
“You wear matching pajamas?” Holland asks, the faintest of smirks on his lips.
“Correction. Ionlywear matching pajamas.” I crawl into bed, pulling the blankets up to my chest. Slate immediately readjusts on the bed, lying so he’s touching one of my legs. My heart melts.
This bed is glorious. You sink into it, just enough, and the sheets are soft. I wiggle my body down. I must’ve been so wrapped up before that my brain didn’t quite register the luxury of this bed.
I turn to the side, putting my head on Holland’s chest, an arm draped up and over, touching the skin between his neck and shoulder.
“Is this okay?”
He pulls me close enough to place a soft kiss on my hair. “More than okay.”
Holland turns the light off. I do a smaller version of my box breathing but find I don’t need it. The feel of his muscles and the rhythm of his heartbeat are enough to pull me into sleep.
When I wake up, Holland is looking at me. Light comes through the windows and hits his eyes, showing flecks of gold.
My apartment has blackout curtains; I’m not sure the last time I’ve woken up to beams of sunlight.
“Good morning,” I say as I stretch and move my body under the covers.
“Morning.” His voice is gravelly. He doesn’t break eye contact and it makes me a little self-conscious. Before I can help it, a nervous grin spreads over my lips.
“What? Why are you looking at me like that?” I cover my eyes with myhands, peeking through my fingers.
Holland sits up, his lips turned up at the corners to match my own, and his eyes roam over me. “I can’t believe I’m waking up next to you. You’re stunning,” he says.
I laugh, feeling ridiculous with my bedhead, and this gorgeous man giving me compliments in bed. “I doubt that, but thank you.”
Holland leans over and says, “I want to kiss you. I need you to tell me you’re okay with it though.”
He wants tokiss me. I take a second to let me body feel and brain think. I feel safe and special when I’m with Holland. I want him to kiss me.
“You can kiss me.”
His mouth is on mine. Slow and soft. Our smiles meet first and then I deepen our connection, wanting more. He nudges at my hip and helps me roll on top of him. My breath hitches. I’m straddling him, feeling him through his boxers.
He runs his hands from the top of my shoulders down to my ass, where they stay. I lean further into him, my breasts touching his chest.
Every inch of my skin feels hot, it’s tingling and begging for his touch. I plant kisses from his jawline to his neck. I feel his heartbeat under my mouth and lightly bite. He grips my ass harder and lets out a low moan.
That sound. That sound makes me move my hips and curse the fabric between us.
Holland moves his fingers to the hem of my shorts. He moves his hands underneath the fabric and slowly makes it to the top of my thighs, delicate and teasing. I feel like he’s getting me back for the kisses and nips on his neck. To be honest, he can get me back as much as he wants.
When his hands make their way back to my ass, no longer separated by clothing, I kiss him harder. My fingers are in his hair, pulling, anything to get him closer to me.
I sit back and reach for the bottom of my top. Showing him I wantto take it off. Understanding, Holland nods at me. My body hums with anticipation. As I’m about to pull the top over my breasts, there’s a noise downstairs.
