7. Lexi

Was he really anxious that I would just walk away and avoid a kiss?

Nah, I just wanted to keep Holden in suspense a little. Draw it out to ensure he doesn't get cocky with the idea that I would be easy at the click of his fingers.

Our ability to play around one another is equal. We both have that skill and on the same level.

Holden's lips are near bruising, and I love it, which is why I give back as good as I get. My arms slide up his then slow so my hands can trace the curve of his shoulders until I link them behind his neck. He is a little taller than me, so I rise on the balls of my feet. The ability for my body to find the right position of its own accord while I kiss Holden is a talent because it means I can sink into this heavenly kiss.

We both seem to murmur when our mouths tilt together to get more. His lips are firm but caress mine just right. The short afternoon stubble around his mouth is the perfect combination to remind me how much of a man he is.

Sparks fly through my body, and my heart quickens as we gently part to gather some air to breathe, right before our mouths find each other again, a little slower this time. The tips of our tongues greet one another with a little dance. Heat skims down over my obliques to settle on my waist, and gosh, his hands framing my body is what I was craving. It brings stability to the kiss that has me wanting more.

Holden almost growls when we pull away, with his eyes connecting with mine, only to dip down to my swollen mouth then strike up back to my eyes. It's sexy and inviting. He has plans for me, and I'm willing.

"That was fun." His voice is gruff but assured.

"Was?" I ask, with a smile covering my fear that this was it.

But he chuckles. "Not a damn chance."

My smile widens right before he dives down to kiss me again. We begin to step together, circling around as we move toward the couch. During this travel of anticipation, he pulls on the edge of my t-shirt before peeling it up with vigor, only for me to take over when his arm wraps around my middle to keep me close. He only takes one moment to admire my pink lace bra, and it seems to fuel him, because the moment we are back at the couch, he lifts then twirls me until I'm on my back underneath him.

"Tsk, tsk, Lexi," he tuts with a devilish smirk. "You made us go to the kitchen, only to return to where we started."

I chortle as my hands play with his t-shirt, wanting it off already a minute ago. "I'm not that easy, Holden. I may be another one of your conquests, but by no means am I falling at your feet."

A wave of uncertainty glazes over his eyes, and I don't have a clue how to uncover his thoughts. "Huh, conquests. But you have the best mouth I've ever seen that spits out retorts at record speed. Now let me touch you more." He sounds desperate, and confidence and excitement bloom inside me.

My leg drives up to pull his body even closer to mine. "Only if you're nice." I fake a pout.

"I'm never nice, but I am demanding, and something blazes in your eyes that you want that anyhow."

I breathe out a knowing breath but don't answer because I don't get a chance. His mouth is trailing down my neck to my breasts, and my entire body lifts to offer him more. I'm buzzing with a need so strong that I really wish the clock would speed up.

Which is why my hands sneak between us to work the button of his jeans. When his mouth kisses and nibbles at the valley of my breasts, his hand joins me in loosening his jeans to slide down his hips. Instantly, my palm covers his cock underneath his briefs, and I softly gasp. His stiff cock feels very big, and that excites me even more.

The feeling of fingers unbuttoning my jeans ups the anticipation, but I won't wait and slide them down as fast as I can. I'm not sure that Holden even looks, he just pursues his crusade to fuck me, and I'm ready to surrender.

A moan hits me as his finger grazes over the damp lace near my clit. A few strokes and I'm already halfway on the road to trembling.

"Lexi, your pussy seems to be eager for me to play. My mouth will have to wait, because since you walked into my office the other day, I've thought about fucking you senseless for round one."

A noise tunes a short melody under my breath. "I don't think I'll mind."

Quickly, he no longer hovers over me, and instead, he stands to offer me his hand. "Come on, your room. I don't think the sofa with popcorn stuck behind a pillow is the place for this."

Ah, and he's right. This is where his family spends their relaxation time, and it would be a little odd for him to take his hookup on his couch, wouldn't it?

I comply, and he yanks me up with power. I don't expect Holden to keep my hand firmly in his as he tows me along, but the off-guard sweetness kind of sends a twinkle somewhere inside me. Luckily, the guest room and bathroom are off the study, so we don't need to go far.

He kicks the door shut behind us and then pushes me onto the bed, and we are back to the same position that we were on the couch. My toes now dig into his ass to press his cock to my pussy. I'm not sure if I can wait long.

"Condom," he says into my neck.

"Mmmhmm," I hum.

"No, I mean, I don't have a condom here. It's in my jeans back in my wallet in the other room."

"Oh." I come up to my forearms. "I think I have one in my bag somewhere." He lies to his side to allow me to hop off the bed, and it takes me a few big steps or rather jog to the bathroom to grab one from my makeup bag. Appearing at the door, I hold it up. "Lucky us." Then I dive back onto the bed.

He studies me with concern. "Had plans for your time in Lake Spark?"

I swat him. "Oh yeah. I was totally going to head to Main Street to see who I could convince to join me in my wicked ways, even heard the sheriff is single again," I tease him.

Holden flips me until I'm on my back and he is on his side. "Looks like you upgraded." His hand pulls my thigh to the side, with the back of his finger drawing a line up my skin, creating a sensitive wave throughout my body.

"Don't go off topic, we need clothes off and the condom on," I usher us along.

The corners of his mouth hitch as he's entertained. We both work off any fabric that remains on us, and he rips open the condom wrapper with his teeth, quickly sheathing it on. The moment he settles between my legs, I think my clit is in pain I'm so desperate for Holden to fill me up.

When he begins to nudge his cock inside me, I moan from a release of patience.

"Fuck me," he grunts. "You're perfectly tight yet taking me well." He pushes further and slowly until he's in deep. I twirl my hips a few circles, only for him move up, pin my arms above my head, and open me wide. "No, baby, you'll lie back and watch as I take you hard and deep."

A sound of pleasure draws out from my mouth when I look down to see his cock sliding in and out of me, glistening with my arousal.

Holden pumps and pumps, and I clench and meet him on thrusts. We go faster, harder, until I'm not sure how long it's been because I'm lost. "Fuck. Almost. Fuck. So good," I moan breathlessly.

"I know," he grunts.

His thumb on my clit brings a near scream from my lips as I reach my orgasm that overtakes me as I shake around his cock, and my head spins. It feels like I'm not even on earth when a few moments later Holden follows me with an orgasm that rips through him and causes him to nearly roar.

He takes a few seconds to recover before he withdraws and falls onto his back.

We're both perfectly spent.

* * *

I leanon my side with the sheet covering me loosely and my head propped on my arm as I watch Holden reappear from the bathroom after having taken care of the condom.

There is a droll smile on his face as he walks naked back to the bed and then joins me under the covers.

"That escalated quickly," he jokes.

"It seems so." My lips quirk out. "I don"t think you particularly care, though."

He glances at me. "Not really. Should I? I think we both know this was a release for one another, and there will probably be a second time or third."

"Is that what you do with the others?"

He snorts a laugh. "You really have a great interpretation of me." He sounds almost offended, but his relaxed face doesn"t fade. "I haven't had sex with anyone for a few months, believe it or not."

"Well, I mean, I guess you still know what to do," I taunt him, and it earns me Holden gently tackling me until he is on his side looking down on me.

"You are kind of a sunshiny, almost annoying woman, so fortunately for you, I appreciate your humor."

I lick my lips. "Likewise. It"s nice seeing very adult Holden again. Last time I saw you, well, you were an adult but with a lot of chaos in your life and not the good kind. You were so distracted that everyone kind of gave you some space," I explain, and it"s honest.

Sure, even I wasn"t immune to his looks, but it never crossed my mind that he would be a contender since he was way beyond my years in terms of life experience. Now? The moment I walked into his office, a light went on, and I could see maybe more in him, completely unexplainable.

"My life is still chaos," he reminds me honestly.

I smile softly at him. "The good kind." We both lie on our backs, and I tip my nose in the direction of a canvas photoon the wall of Lori in a tutu. "It"s a great picture."

He follows the line of my eyes. "Yeah, she was maybe eight there. She used to dance more but figure skating is her hobby of choice now. Lori still goes to one ballet class a week because her coach says it will help on the ice." The smile of affection and love on his face is apparent. "She"s good. I"m happy it brings me to the ice rink on a frequent basis, and memories hit me." Holden points to another picture on the wall of his son playing in shallow water at the lake. "As much as I dreamed of raising a little hockey player, Harry is our science and music guy. I"ve accepted that one squeaking instrument at a time. A great kid when he"s on good behavior."

I begin to draw on his arm with my fingers. "You love them. Any fool could see that. One day, you will look back at this chapter and laugh at some of their tricks."

He chuckles as his own finger begins to swirl on my thigh under the sheet, not even in a sexual way. "You're completely right. If you are firm on that theory, then I"m sure you will roll into motherhood with a breeze."

I shrug. "Maybe, not sure I"m ready for that now, though, if ever."

"Hmm."

I roll back onto my side and tuck my hands under my head. "Can I ask? If it"s too personal, then don"t answer. But do you think they are acting this way because, well, their mom isn"t in the picture?"

He ponders. "First off, with you, I don"t seem to mind talking about this stuff, which is new for me. But I"m not sure, at least they never mention it. At some point, it must cross their mind that their mom doesn"t want any involvement. I sure as hell have tried to make up for that by being two parents in one… You just caught me on a bad month… or year. It"s been a wild ride for the last year or two."

"Growing pains," I assure him.

Holden has a serious look when his eyes greet mine. Maybe for a moment I think it"s appreciation. "I should probably go."

It"s nice not being alone for a night, but I follow his cues because we need to keep this simple. "Yep."

Neither one of us moves.

There's a tension that can"t be ignored.

Then he throws the sheets off us. "Fuck it. One more time."

I giggle as we head into another round.

Meaningless sex is not new to me. You just have clear guidelines, and when it runs its course, then you move on. Except staying and working with the man while you enjoy mind-blowing sex?

That"s new.

And I"m not sure about the rules or limits.

Even worse, I"ve been known to only accept intuition when it"s too late.