Page 97 of Forbidden Romeo
Holden's eyes lock with mine, and there's a desperation there that I recognize all too well. It spurs me on, makes me want to give him the release he so desperately seeks. My nails dig into his back as my muscles clench around him, pulling him in even deeper.
"Katherine," he grunts, his restraint slipping away as he pistons his hips faster and faster. "Fuck," he barks, his face twisting in pleasure as his teeth graze my bottom lip.
"Holden," I gasp out, my voice catching in my throat as the waves of bliss rush over me once more. "I'm... I'm...!"
And then it happens. The dam breaks and I'm there again, exploding into a million pieces underneath him. Holden's entire body tenses and he lets out a muffled groan against my neck as he climaxes within me.
There's something different about this time together. It's as if all the pent-up longing and unspoken words have finally been released along with our shared orgasms. The weight that had once been between us is gone, replaced by a tentative yet undeniable connection.
Holden collapses on top of me, his chest heaving against mine as we both try to catch our breaths. His hands glide up and down my back, soothing me as our hearts slow to a more normal beat together.
I run my fingers through his damp hair, marveling at how soft it feels against my fingertips. His chest rises and falls with each ragged breath, our hearts still beating wildly in synchronization. He must sense my gaze on him because he turns his head to look at me with those gilded amber eyes that I know better than my own reflection.
"I've missed this," I whisper, my voice raw from passion and emotion.
"I’ve missed you." He smiles lazily, a contented expression washing over his handsome face.
His hand finds mine where it clings to his shoulder and laces our fingers together, as if binding us for good this time around. And it feels like he's trying to do just that: claim me as his forever.
“I’ve thought about you every day for five years, Katherine. I need you to know that. Not a minute passed that I didn’t wish I could reach out and make everything up to you. But I couldn’t. For years, my dad threatened what he would do to you if I broke my end of the bargain. It wasn’t until this opportunity directing presented itself that I knew I could fly under the radar and use Reid Bradley to get you the audition.”
I grabbed my shirt and pants, pulling them back on, realizing that Duncan could wake up at any moment and come back out here.
“That reminds me,” I say, sitting up and reaching over to where I’d discarded my bag earlier. “I brought you a gift.”
Holden’s brows lift. “You brought me a gift? I thought you were the gift.”
I pull out a notebook from my bag and hand it over to him. “You gave me all of your innermost thoughts… and I feel like I owe you the same.”
Surprised, he blinks, running his hand over the spiral notebook. It’s in better condition than his cheap drugstore composition notebook. Hardbound with embossed flowers on it and a little pocket on the back to tuck a pen.
“You journaled?” he asks.
“I journaled all through college. That’s book one of three.”
He tenderly cradles the notebook in his hand like it’s a valuable artifact.
“You’re giving it to me?” he asks again.
I nod. “It only seems fair. But for now…” I take the journal and flip it open to the correct page. “I want you to read this entry. With me. Right now. It’s going to hurt, but I think you need to know what McCay, and I’m guessing your dad did to me. Immediately.”
His gaze snaps to mine, instantly furious. “They didn’t keep their end of the bargain, did they?”
I nibble my bottom lip and shrug. “I think they did. They’re just experts at loopholes.”
“I’ll fucking kill them?—”
“Holden,” I interrupt, taking his hand in mine and giving it a squeeze. “Just read.”
CHAPTER 38
Kate
Five years earlier…
I pulled out my phone from my pocket and snuck a look from underneath the counter of the barista. Still no response from Holden. It had been two days.
Two days might not seem like a lot to most, but it was the longest Holden and I had gone not talking in ages. Since the foiled audition in New York, actually.