The tone of her voice made it clear that it wasn’t an option. Holly was a trooper during our time overseas in Germany, but she’d made it clear that once we got home, she was ready to settle down and plant some roots. That was what was important to her. I’d bought her a ring and proposed to her to show I was ready to settle down and make her dreams come true. And I still was. But I needed time. I didn’t want to stand there and promise to give her the world on a silver platter when my world was such a fucking disaster.
Holly turned back to the stove and I watched her back as she opened cupboards, brought down plates and glasses, and went about finishing up the dinner preparations. My self-loathing grew with each passing second.
God, when had I turned into such a dick?
I hurried forward and reached her in time to swipe a pair of wine glasses from her fingertips. She met my eyes as I set them on the counter and my stomach plummeted. She was so damn beautiful. I didn’t deserve her. Not like this. “Holly,” I whispered, reaching a finger up to trace the soft lines of her face. Her honey-blonde hair was tied back in a low ponytail and my fingers ached to run through the strands. “I’m sorry.”
She blinked and when her eyes opened they were glossy with unshed tears. Seeing her like that gutted me. I grabbed her and gathered her against my chest in a crushing embrace. I needed her. Wanted her. And I could feel her slipping away.
“We’ll figure it out, okay? Let me get some of this shit handled and then we’ll set the date. I promise.”
She sniffled and nodded against my chest. “Okay.”
“I love you.”
She moved her chin up until it was propped against me. Her big brown eyes met mine and a smile crossed her full lips. “I love you, too.”
Our lips met in the middle in a sweet kiss that quickly turned sultry. I hadn’t had her for what felt like forever. Our schedules hadn’t matched up and in the few times we were together, there was always something going on under the surface that prevented it. But in just a few seconds, all the excuses fell away and I wanted her. I needed to feel her soft skin against mine. I wanted to show her that she was still mine and that she always would be.
A small moan bubbled up from Holly and vibrated through the kiss. Every inch of me lit on fire at the sound and taste of her. I tugged at the buttons on her sweater and ran my hands up under the top she wore underneath it. Her skin felt like heaven. Warm and soft. She moved her hips against me and I felt her lips tug into a smile as they slid down my neck. “What about dinner?” she asked, her voice delirious and husky.
My fingers went to unbutton her jeans. The jeans that made her ass look irresistible. God, I hoped she wasn’t wearing any panties. “Fuck dinner, honey. I want you,” I growled.
Holly giggled and slid my jacket and t-shirt off. Her fingers roved over my bare torso and her eyes followed as if she was mesmerized by the body she’d seen a hundred times before. The hungry look in her eyes got me even hornier and I impatiently tugged the jeans over her hips. Her dental-floss thin thong went next. As soon as she stepped out of them, I boosted her up onto the counter. I spread her legs open and stared down at her sweet pussy. One stroke of my fingers and my breath hitched in my throat. She was soaking wet. Ready. Desperate.
Holly moaned and wiggled her hips against my hand, begging for more.
I slid a finger deep inside of her. “Damn...” I flexed my jaw as she clenched around me.
Holly smiled and nibbled on her lower lip as she went to work on the fly of my jeans. As soon as she got the button free, I pulled away from her just long enough to tear off my pants and boxer briefs. Her hand immediately went to my cock and she lazily stroked the tip. A teasing glint in her eyes. “Damn it, baby, you’re such a tease,” I groaned. “Get over here.”
I pulled her hips forward, balancing her on the edge of the counter. Without another word, I pushed inside her and nearly lost control on the first pulse. She fit me like a glove. Always had. But there was something even sweeter about the way she felt in the aftermath of a tense, frustrating night.
Holly wound her arms around my neck and panted into my ear as I fucked her hard and fast there against the kitchen counter. She cried out when she was close and I grinned down at her, teasing her with a couple of slow strokes before slamming back inside.