“No, no, let me finish. So that takes care of young and fun… What was the other one? Oh, hot? Natalie…” He lets his words kiss my brain before continuing, wrapping my entire self in an armless hug. “I think you’re the most beautiful, sexy woman I’ve ever met. I-I don’t date, never have, actually, never felt the needto, but with you, it’s been the only thing I can think about. All I want is to get to know you better, to kiss you all the time, to hear your thoughts, to be near you.”
I suck in a breath, and he smiles, his whiskey gems dropping to my lips.
“I’ve never wanted to fall in love with someone, but I know I can fall in love with you. Let me.”
I can’t take my eyes away from him, bouncing between his eyes, his lips, his throat. I want nothing more than to let him do whatever he wants. I want nothing more than to give this a try, but I…I don’t know, I just?—
“Natalie.”
“Mm?” He’s closer, so much closer. We’re breathing the same air, our lips practically touching. I want to get lost in him in a way I’ve never thought of in so long. How do I tell him all this without spooking him?
“I’m going to kiss you.” The Earth stops spinning, and all that is left is his silky voice. “I’m going to kiss you slowly and softly.” His fingers graze my face, slowly crawling until they press against the back of my head. “I’m going to kiss you until your lips become second nature to mine and my tongue memorizes every line and every curve.” His thumb traces my lower lip, pulling it from between my teeth, as I suck in a breath. “I want to take my time with every piece of you you’re willing to give me.”
“Holden, I?—”
His eyes lift from my lips to mine. “I can see the fear in your eyes. I know you said it wasn’t me; it was just in general that you didn’t know, right?”
I nod.
“Okay, then let’s figure this out. I’m not asking you to run. I’m asking for baby steps. Is that doable for you? Can you walk with me?”
I let out a breath, in between a sigh and a laugh. “Yes,” I finally whisper.
He closes the space between us, doing exactly what he said he would. Slowly, he slides his lips against mine, his tongue playfully roaming my lower lip, caressing what it touches, pulling another sigh from me. His hands hold my face, carefully, tenderly, and I do the same, blindly finding his neck, grazing my fingers along his hairline, pulling his hair gently.
A hand roams down my arm, leaving goosebumps in its wake, and grabs my leg, draping it over his so he can get closer. It’s sexy and intimate but still respects my boundaries, and suddenly, I don’t remember why I set up boundaries in the first place.
I open my mouth, allowing his skilled tongue entrance. With one swipe, he pulls a small moan from my lips, and he groans.
I’m in so much trouble. I know I am. Especially when he sucks my bottom lip between his and then ends the kiss with a quick peck.
He holds my face between his hands, letting us both be in this moment, surrounded by the music echoing in the background and our heavy breaths between us.
“Baby steps, beautiful. Baby steps,” he whispers.
I pout, and he smiles, dropping his forehead to mine.
“You set the pace, but I don’t want you regretting anything. Okay?”
An exhale leaves my lips, touching his. “I don’t wantyouregretting anything.”
“I won’t. Trust me.”
I shake my head in defeat, sinking into my spot on the couch. I let the time between us pass. I have to go home soon, but I don’t want to break this bubble we found ourselves in.
“And to answer your question about earlier. They don’t know about the whole dad ordeal. I…they still think he died all thoseyears ago. They’re all going through a lot, and they don’t need my issues on top of that.”
“You called them your framily, though, right?”
“I know, I know. They deserve to know. I should tell them.”
“How’s that going, by the way?”
“It’s going. There’s a lot of healing to do on both our parts, I think. I didn’t go see him yesterday, but I will on Monday. I might even go tomorrow. I just…I don’t know. It’s hard.”
“Take your time. Baby steps.” I use his own words against him. He’s done with the topic, I can tell, so I don’t press.
A smirk dawns on his face. “Now I do have a question for you.”
