miles. Once again, I was stunned. I couldn’t believe he was inviting me to stay for the night. I’d never been in a place like this before, let alone slept in one. I sat gingerly on the edge of the bed, feeling how comfy it was under my weight. Then with a sigh, I laid back. I couldn’t resist spreading my arms across the soft blanket.
I looked out the picturesque window. “So, my options are to either spend the night in this beautiful house with an ocean view, in a bed that I could knock out in right now or to go back to my place?” I suddenly felt like Annie. Things like this just didn’t happen to girls like me.
Sure, I’d only known Holden for less than six months, but I didn’t want my fear to win out tonight. For some reason, I’d felt like I could trust him from the moment we’d met.
With a light laugh, I stretched out like a cat, trying not to purr while I enjoyed the luxurious feeling of the coziest bed I’d ever laid in. A hum vibrated in my throat. “It’s a difficult choice, but I think I’ll stay with you.”
Realizing how that sounded, I popped my eyes open and sat up quickly only to find him staring at me with a ravenous look as his chest heaved in and out. Drawing my knees up to my chest, I rephrased. “I mean, I’d like to stay here. In this room. Tonight.”
He made a grunting sound, then took a deep breath. “Okay, good.” Swallowing hard, he looked out the window before meeting my eyes once more. “How about we get out of this room and go grab something to eat?” Without waiting for me, he strode to the door. “Let me grab a few sweatshirts since it’s cold outside. Meet me downstairs, and we’ll take off.” Then he was gone, and the only sounds I heard were his footsteps as he jogged up the other flight of stairs.
I laid back for a few more seconds, just taking in the luxury. A girl could easily get spoiled like this. And there was something about the way he always said ‘we’ that made me think about possibilities. It wasn’t the word itself but the confident way he said it, like he and I were one. Together.
I’d never had that before. Maybe it was all in my head, but I decided to let go of all the insecurities that had been weighing me down and just enjoy this time with him. It could be nothing. I could be left hurt. I’d take it. It would be worth it.
What did I have to lose?
We strolled down the dimly lit, cement pathway that separated the beachfront homes from the sand. As was usual for southern California, our little rain storm ended up being nothing more than an hour’s worth of a few sprinkles, but the crisp, cool air remained behind.
“Dinner was really good.” I peeked up at Holden, focusing on the sensation of his strong hand covering mine. It was such a simple thing but meant more to me than he could ever know. “Thanks for bringing me out here.”
The sound of the waves coming in and pulling away from the shore filled me with such peace.
His voice was tender as he looked at me. “I’ve wanted to bring you out here, away from everything, for a while now. I’m trying to pace myself though.”
The ginormous hooded sweatshirt he’d given me to wear engulfed my body as I tilted to give him my best curious smile. “What do you mean by, pace yourself?” Surprisingly, I didn’t feel weird about being here, holding his hand, maybe even heading toward something I’d never had. A normal relationship.
He pulled me toward his body before moving the hood down. “You’ve got to know by now how I feel about you, Jules.”
I was surprised by his sudden seriousness and the passion in his eyes. “No, Holden. I don’t.”
“Then let me spell it out for you.” He stepped closer, allowing me a moment to take a quick breath before his soft, warm lips touched mine. The sound of crashing waves continued to surround us as his mouth worked slowly against my lips. It was by far the best kiss I’d ever had. Way too soon, his lips
I looked out the picturesque window. “So, my options are to either spend the night in this beautiful house with an ocean view, in a bed that I could knock out in right now or to go back to my place?” I suddenly felt like Annie. Things like this just didn’t happen to girls like me.
Sure, I’d only known Holden for less than six months, but I didn’t want my fear to win out tonight. For some reason, I’d felt like I could trust him from the moment we’d met.
With a light laugh, I stretched out like a cat, trying not to purr while I enjoyed the luxurious feeling of the coziest bed I’d ever laid in. A hum vibrated in my throat. “It’s a difficult choice, but I think I’ll stay with you.”
Realizing how that sounded, I popped my eyes open and sat up quickly only to find him staring at me with a ravenous look as his chest heaved in and out. Drawing my knees up to my chest, I rephrased. “I mean, I’d like to stay here. In this room. Tonight.”
He made a grunting sound, then took a deep breath. “Okay, good.” Swallowing hard, he looked out the window before meeting my eyes once more. “How about we get out of this room and go grab something to eat?” Without waiting for me, he strode to the door. “Let me grab a few sweatshirts since it’s cold outside. Meet me downstairs, and we’ll take off.” Then he was gone, and the only sounds I heard were his footsteps as he jogged up the other flight of stairs.
I laid back for a few more seconds, just taking in the luxury. A girl could easily get spoiled like this. And there was something about the way he always said ‘we’ that made me think about possibilities. It wasn’t the word itself but the confident way he said it, like he and I were one. Together.
I’d never had that before. Maybe it was all in my head, but I decided to let go of all the insecurities that had been weighing me down and just enjoy this time with him. It could be nothing. I could be left hurt. I’d take it. It would be worth it.
What did I have to lose?
We strolled down the dimly lit, cement pathway that separated the beachfront homes from the sand. As was usual for southern California, our little rain storm ended up being nothing more than an hour’s worth of a few sprinkles, but the crisp, cool air remained behind.
“Dinner was really good.” I peeked up at Holden, focusing on the sensation of his strong hand covering mine. It was such a simple thing but meant more to me than he could ever know. “Thanks for bringing me out here.”
The sound of the waves coming in and pulling away from the shore filled me with such peace.
His voice was tender as he looked at me. “I’ve wanted to bring you out here, away from everything, for a while now. I’m trying to pace myself though.”
The ginormous hooded sweatshirt he’d given me to wear engulfed my body as I tilted to give him my best curious smile. “What do you mean by, pace yourself?” Surprisingly, I didn’t feel weird about being here, holding his hand, maybe even heading toward something I’d never had. A normal relationship.
He pulled me toward his body before moving the hood down. “You’ve got to know by now how I feel about you, Jules.”
I was surprised by his sudden seriousness and the passion in his eyes. “No, Holden. I don’t.”
“Then let me spell it out for you.” He stepped closer, allowing me a moment to take a quick breath before his soft, warm lips touched mine. The sound of crashing waves continued to surround us as his mouth worked slowly against my lips. It was by far the best kiss I’d ever had. Way too soon, his lips
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