Because You're Mine (7 page)

              “He put his hand on your shoulder.” I slipped out before I could think better of it.

              “You were watching me?” Her head jerked back in surprise.

             
Damn.

              My hands found the bottom of my pockets. I took a tentative step forward. “I couldn’t help it. It’s kinda hard not to watch you when you’re dressed like that.” Her dress was low cut, showing a little cleavage behind that tiny denim jacket she had on. But it was just enough to leave
a lot
to the imagination. And drive me fucking mad at the same time.

              “What’s wrong with the way I’m dressed?”

I took in another step. The strong need to kiss her until both of our mouths were swollen and numb was almost unbearable.

I gripped the insides of my pocket so my hands would stay put. “I can’t stop thinkin’ about what you look like underneath.”

Her perfect mouth formed an O and it sent all kinds of wicked, dirty thoughts running through my mind.  She shut her mouth and opened it as if she were about to unload on my ass when Katy walked up, pulling Maddie in for a hug.

              “Maddie, are you ok?”

             
Well, I’ll be damned. 

CHAPTER eight

A man’s kiss is his signature.

-Mae West

Madison

              “I’m fine. Hee-Man here is the one with the anger issues.” I whispered behind Katy’s hair, my eyes still firmly locked on Holden’s.

              Challenging him.

              “Who? Holden?” Katy pulled back to look between the two of us.  “No way. He’s harmless. Keeps assholes like that in line-that’s for sure.”

              “Wait, you work here? I thought you were just a mechanic?”

              Holden’s face tensed and his nostrils flared. “I’m not
just
anything, sweetheart.” he said with a sliver of anger piercing his voice.

              “Sorry. I just thought that…”

              “Things between us would be a lot better if you’d stop thinkin’ so damn much.” His signature grin made a play for his lips.

“How much longer ‘til you get off?” I tried not to look at him but he made it impossible. He had that damn look on his face again, like I amused him or something. It was really starting to get under my skin. He was just too damn cocky for his own good. I mean, who the hell did he think he was?

              “Just give me twenty more minutes to close out my tabs.” She looked back and forth between our stare down. “You two play nice.” Katy threw out before she darted off. Not willing to stand there and entertain him for one more second, I turned to leave.

              “Hey, where’re ya goin’?” he asked, grasping my elbow.

              Looking back into those cobalt eyes, I knew I was screwed. This man had a hold on me in so many ways. It was utterly ridiculous considering the short amount of time I’d known him.

              “Ladies room. Wanna come? You can hold my bag.” I teased.

He released my elbow. “No thanks. Just don’t talk to any strangers, ok?” His genuine concern sent warmth dipping low in my belly, and I couldn’t help but smile back at him. The man was infectious.

              The ladies’ room provided me with a little reprieve. After a few calming breaths, I checked the time on my cell again. Katy should be getting off any minute.

Opening the door to the bathroom, I found Holden resting his tall, lean body against the wall. One booted foot crossed the other at the ankles while his thumbs hung loose from his front pockets. His eyes met mine, yanking the air straight from my chest. He looked so different without his ball cap on. His hair was cut close to his head and I was pretty sure he didn’t even have to brush it. His rugged features and that amazing smile had me panting like a thirsty dog in the sweltering heat.

“You stalkin’ me now?” I cocked my head to the side, trying to look offended. But it was an epic fail through and through. He turned me on like no other man could, and I think he knew it. 

Everything about him sparked something to life inside of me. Something I never even knew existed.

              “Maybe.” With a sly grin, he pushed from his perch. Before I had a chance to react, he had me pinned against the wall. I inhaled his mind numbing scent, and my body tingled with need. Closing my eyes, I sought my brain to take control. But once again, my body refused to listen.

             
Stupid body.

              “So, I was thinking…we should hang out and get to know each other better.” His eyes were intent and his breath was hot and sweet on face.

             
Kiss me.  

              Licking my lips, I did my best to entice him. “Um…” His eyes shot to my mouth. I was so damn hot for this man…I couldn’t form a single fucking thought. “Not a good idea,” I managed to push out.

              “Why’s that?” His eyes held mine.              

              Every time he focused those deep blues on me, I could feel myself falling further and further into their depths.

              “What’s the point?” I asked bluntly.

              That bitch card Tabitha had told me about was the only thing that could save me at this point. But even that was beginning to prove ineffective against the likes of one Holden Brooks. 

              “Oh, Maddie. I see plenty of points…don’t you?” he asked, pushing in closer. His front was now brushing up against mine, and I was fighting hard to push air in and out without moaning.

              “Not really.”

Who the hell was I kidding?

              “You don’t like makin’ new friends?” I could just push him off of me...cause a scene and really put him in his place. But I loved
everything
he was doing to me.

             
I wanted more.

              “Yes, but I have a feelin’ you wanna be more than just friends.”

              “You’re right. I do.” he rasped.

              “That’s not gonna happen.”

              “And why’s that?”

              “Because.”

              “You’re gonna have to do better than that, Maddie.”

              “There’s no point in starting something we can’t finish.”

              “You’re right,” Surprisingly, his words punched me right in the gut. “However, I believe everything happens for a reason. There’s a reason we met, there’s a reason you’re here tonight, and there’s a reason why I feel the way I do about you. I can’t ignore any of that. I won’t. I don’t fuck around with fate, Maddie. You shouldn’t either.”

             
Fate
?

              “Aw, to hell with it.” he growled before his lips fused with mine.

              Cinnamon and Holden flooded my mouth, drowning me with his intoxicating taste.  His hands found both sides of my neck as he plunged deeper inside my mouth. My hands clasped at the sides of his shirt, silently begging him for more. His hot tongue tangled with mine and it felt like a branding iron, searing his taste inside my mouth forever. His possessive kiss slowed, becoming more tender and sweet. His soft lips nipped and tugged at my mouth flawlessly. I was completely immersed in him. His mouth was addictive and fit perfectly with mine. I could spend hours kissing this man. With a final tug of my bottom lip, he ended the kiss. Then he whispered a kiss on my forehead before he walked away.

             
What the hell?

              Once I caught my breath, I ambled up to the bar. “Where the hell have you been?” Katy asked.

“Ladies’ room,” I replied, scanning the bar.

              “Here.” She handed me a bottle of Bud Light. “Who are we lookin’ for?” Katy inquired, scanning the bar with me.

              “Tell me everything you know about Holden

Brooks?” I demanded.

              “I was wonderin’ how long it would take before you asked about him.” she grinned around her bottle of bud.

              “I’m just curious. He’s lived here for a while, right? I’m just surprised I haven’t met him before now.”

Katy led us to an empty booth tucked away in the back. “That just goes to show you need to bring your ass home more often. Holden and Archer are cousins. Archer moved here about six years ago and Holden showed up a year later. They both have more money than God, some kind of family inheritance or something. Neither one of ‘em have to work, but they’re both work-a-holics. Holden is super sweet and always a gentleman. Archer is tough as nails and nowhere near gentle. You like ‘em don’t cha?” I didn’t know what to say. Of course I liked him. What’s not to like? He was perfectly annoying.

              “He’s an asshole,” I muttered, tearing at the napkin wrapped around my beer.

              “Asshole, huh? He didn’t look like he was being an
asshole
when he had his tongue buried in your mouth.”

              “You saw that?”

              “Um, yeah. Who didn’t?” she said with a shit eating grin flashing across her face.

              “He scares me, Katy. I get all these crazy feelings when I’m around him, and I don’t like it.”

              “Like…what kinda feelings?” she wrinkled her nose.

              “Ever since I met the guy, he’s all I think about. He has this smile, Jesus Christ, Katy, it drives me insane. I can’t decide if I want to punch him in the face or kiss the ever lovin’ shit out of him. Like I said, he’s an asshole.” I crossed my arms on a huff. I was irritated. I was frustrated. Just talking about him had my blood thrumming with need.

             
Ugh!!!

              “Holy shit.” Katy laughed. “You really do like him. What’s wrong with that? Go for it. He’s such a great guy. Maddie. I think you two would be-”

              I threw my hand up. “No ma’am. I can’t even think about that. It would never work anyway. I live in Boston, remember. He lives here. Not happening.”

              “Why not take a chance though. Just see what happens?” she pleaded.

              “Shit, Katy, I don’t need this right now. I have way too much going on in my life.” I didn’t mean to raise my voice. I was starting to get angry, not at Katy, but at myself. I wanted to explore these feelings I was having for Holden, but I was too afraid. They were way too strong.

              Katy wasn’t fazed by my flared temper.

“I understand all of that. I really do. But if I were you, I wouldn’t ignore feelings like that. True love only comes along once in a lifetime.”

              True love?

             
“I’m gonna run to the ladies room and grab us another round. Think about what I said.”

              As I watched Katy walk away, I did just that. I mulled over her words over and over again.

No.

This was nothing more than lust. This was not love, true love, or any of the above. I was in
lust
…pure, unbridled, wanton, needy girl
lust
. 

Lost in my deep and utter denial, I didn’t see him approach until he was standing next the table. Looking up into those alluring eyes of his, all of those feeling I kept trying to bury rose fast and furious to the surface. Want, need, and something else I couldn’t quite define thrashed around, searching for purpose.

His smile immediately disarmed me. “C’mon.” Holden seized my hand from my lap. “Dance with me.”

Without protest, I let him lead me out onto the massive dance floor. His hand was big and the inside was rough. But it felt so warm and comforting wrapped firmly around mine. We were just going to dance. So why did it feel like so much more? And why did I keep reading into every move he made? This was nothing more than an attraction between two adults. This was just a more intense version of what Barrett and I had shared.

Way more intense.

He wrapped his solid arms around my waist, pressing my body close to his. The instant contact stole the breath right from my lungs. My hands found the base of his thick neck, anchoring me to him. I stared at his chest for a moment, trying to calm my racing heart.

“Maddie,” That deep southern drawl wrapped around my name like silk. Holden was probably a foot taller than me, but the way he dipped his face close to mine made up for the difference in height. We were so close I could feel the heat of his breath feathering my skin. His heady scent flooded my nose, leaving me breathless. “Do you like the band?” His question ejected me from my
Holden
overload, and I was briefly able to reclaim my senses.

Music flooded my ears where blood had been rushing feverishly before. I looked towards the stage where a stunning couple sang to one another instead of the crowd. Their sensual words and suggestive tone made me blush. The lyrics shot straight to the heart of what I had been feeling since meeting Holden. The words,
slow
,
fire
, and
burn
reverberated throughout my body.

Remembering that Holden had asked me question, I turned my eyes back to his. “They’re good. I like this song.”

              “Me too.” His fingers dug into my hips, pulling me closer.

              “I want you, Maddie. Fuck, I want you so bad.”

              Sucking in a deep breath, I swallowed hard. Holden’s abrupt honestly about his feelings begged for the same in return. And I wanted to reciprocate. But I couldn’t do that. I was too afraid. Afraid of what this would become. I pushed against his chest, trying to gain some distance. He was good at drawing me in, making it impossible for me to think clearly.

              “Holden, I think we should just be friends.”

The song ended and I tried to leave his arms, but he just held on tighter. My hands rested on his forearms as I leaned my upper body away from his. He was suddenly too close, and the only thing I wanted to do was run. It felt way too good being in his arms. That was scaring the shit out of me. “Don’t pull away from me, Maddie.” His blue eyes turned fierce.