41. KADENCE

KADENCE

H olden trails his fingers along my bare back, leaving a trail of goosebumps in their wake despite the fact that I'm wrapped around his warm body. If someone had told me that I would enjoy waking up naked next to a man again, I would've laughed in their face. This though? Listening to the sound of his heartbeat, no pressure to do anything I don't want to, just... intimacy.

We've only been awake for a little while, the sun barely peeks through the slightly parted curtains, and yet there isn't another place I'd rather be. After the barbeque two days ago, we had gone back to our regular routine, no longer holed up in this room. I spent time working in the office while Holden worked on his bike. He told me about their meeting with another club and the idea of it weighed on me. I feel safe at the compound and I don't want to leave the little haven but just as Holden said, I knew it was safer with them than spending my time here worried sick.

"When do we leave?" I ask quietly, curling my fingers against his chest.

Holden lets out a soft groan. "In a few hours. Cole wants to get to Santa Barbara before dark."

I nod at his response, trying hard to ignore the worry that seems to still sit like a heavy ball in my stomach.

"It'll be fine," he says, pressing his lips to the crown of my head. "Meetings like this are normal."

I tilt my head to look up at him seeing that he's already watching me. His stubble has grown in a bit creating a dark shadow along his jawline and it reminds me of the soft burn on my inner thighs. My hand slides to his cheek, the hair there tickling my palm. "I can't imagine they're going to like having someone's girl hanging around."

"Hey," he rasps, curling his thumb and forefinger around my chin. "You aren't just someone's girl." That smug smile I've grown to love a little too much spreads across his features. "You're my girl and that is reason enough for you to be there." Holden leans down pressing his lips to mine. "Besides, getting some time with you outside of the compound will be nice."

"Oh yeah?" I ask, propping myself up on my elbow while his hand trailing down my back moves to tangle in my hair. "We're trading one compound for another." I grin.

"You assume I don't have plans for you."

"And what might those plans be?"

He shrugs. "Well, we're staying for a few days over there but I may have thought of a couple things to do."

I smile, shifting my leg over his waist and move to straddle him, biting back a moan when I feel his length brush against my inner thigh. "Do these plans have anything to do with us and a bed?"

He chuckles, wrapping his hand around the back of my neck and pulls me to him. "Mmm, are you going to be disappointed if I say no?"

I pout. “Maybe.”

Holden shifts his hips, pressing himself against me. “It'll be worth it. I promise.”

“I mean if you’re denying me,” I whine nipping at his bottom lip, “it better be.”

He tilts his head back and laughs. “Sunflower, I’d never deny you.”

Feigning a pondering look and nodding softly I narrow my eyes. "Pretty sure you are." The hold he has in my hair tightens as he pulls me back to him crashing our lips together in a kiss that does nothing to put out the fire in my belly. He gently sinks his teeth into my bottom lip, returning the nip I'd given him earlier.

“Baby, we won’t ever leave this room if one of us doesn’t force us out of this bed.” He grins.

I shrug. “I fail to see the problem.”

He laughs again. Every time the sound tightens my chest. I love his laugh, the soft giggle that he hides from the guys that’s only meant for me. Holden swats my ass playfully. “C’mon, Sunflower, get up. You still need to pack.”

I glance over my shoulder as he sits up, holding me in his arms. My suitcase is overflowing with all the things I took from Florida. With everything we have been through I still haven't unpacked yet and the sight of it makes a twinge of guilt spread through me. The idea of leaving this place, leaving Holden, was not a near feeling anymore. It's the last thing I want to do. Pine River was becoming my home and I wasn't planning on leaving it anytime soon.

"Maybe I need to unpack," I mutter looking up at him.

Holden raises a brow. "Kade," his voice trails off, "we talked about this. It's safer for you to come–"

I shake my head wrapping my arms around his neck. "No, baby, for good." A ball of anxiety forms in my throat as his eyes search mine. "When we get back, I think maybe I should unpack everything for good."

A small smile grows on his lips when my words ring true. "You sure you wanna be stuck with me?" He asks and I know he's teasing by the tone in his voice but it doesn't stop me from cupping his cheeks and running my thumbs over his stubble.

"That depends," I smirk, "are you okay with that?"

"Being stuck with you?" He asks, gripping my hips as I nod. "I guess I would be."

I scoff and he smirks as I push against his chest playfully to climb off of him but his hands tighten around my waist. He's laughing as he pulls me back to him and it sends butterflies through my chest. "Hey," he rasps, "I wouldn't want to be stuck with anyone else."

I can't help the smile on my face as I try to glare at him. "You're pushing it, Nash."

Holden nods with a hum as he tugs me closer and plants the softest kiss on my lips. He forces a whimper from me and I settle into his arms, leaning into him. Every time he kisses me it feels like he can't get enough and I relate to the feeling. I've never wanted to lose myself in someone as much as I do with him.

He is the first to pull back as his hands run up my sides. "You pack. I'll get us some breakfast."

This makes my smile grow. Food and I haven't been the best of friends since Jeremy but Holden always makes sure I'm fed. It doesn't matter if it's a bagel from the cafe down the road or a Lee's special, the fact he encourages me to eat is enough.

"Good," I groan softly, rolling my hips and ignoring the emotions swirling in my chest to tease him. "I'm famished."

Holden lets out a low growl from somewhere deep in his throat and rests his forehead on my shoulder. I don't miss the way his cock twitches under me. "You're killing me," he rasps against my skin.

"We wouldn't want that," I whisper, running my nails down his back and teasing him just enough to make him shudder before I push back and climb off of him. This time he lets me go, falling back against the mattress with a dramatic groan.

"You evil, evil woman," he chuckles, watching me push open the bathroom door.

I flash him a cunning smile. "You should have waited to offer me food then," I tease before closing the bathroom door behind me, ignoring the overwhelming need to crawl back into bed with him.