Hold Me Closer: A Rebel Walking Novel (5 page)

My mind can't organize what I need to pack so I can leave with him.  I'm pretty sure this date will go down in history as one of the craziest first blind dates ever.  I know I'll never forget it and I doubt he will
, either. 

"Do you have everything you need?"

"I think so.  It's just for a night, so I'll be fine."

"If I can get your house secured tomorrow it'll be for one night.  If not, you'll be gone longer."  This is going to make him go all alpha male on me.  This is just what I
need—a man that won't let me breathe—but how can I complain when he's concerned about my safety?  Let's not forget he actually has a house he's taking me to, so that's a step up from what I'm used to.

I can't even argue with him at this point.  I'm drained and don't feel like fighting him on the issue.  I'll address it tomorrow.  I have time to think about it and I know if I don't let him take care of things, Gus will definitely make sure I'm safe.

"Okay."

Our drive to his house is extremely short.  I had no idea he lived this close to me.  His house is a little bigger than I expected.  It feels like a traditional bachelor pad with very little decorative influence, but immaculately clean.  So clean, in fact, that I'm afraid to put my bag down because it'll be the only thing out of place. 

"Clean much?"  I sit on the edge of the bar stool and watch as he moves in the kitchen.

"What can I say? I like things where they belong."

"I can see that.
  I feel like I'm witnessing some sort of extreme obsessive disorder in motion."

This is obviously an area where we're different.  My house is lived in.  It's not filthy, but it's by far messier than any room in this house.  This is so much like what my brother
’s house looked like.  His tendencies make me wonder if he's been in the services.

"So how do you know Aiden?"

"That's my business partner.  We
led the security of the Rebel Walking crew when they were on tour.  Since then, we've been tight.  He has my back and he knows I have his."

"You guys remind me of my brother and his friends.  It's great that you have someone like that."

"It's like that with the whole group of us, though.  If one of my brothers or their girls called, Aiden would drop everything to help.  In fact, he has in the past."

"Eaven seems like that
, too.  She's always been a caring person."

"Yeah.  She pretty much saved my brother."

"They seem perfect together."

"You have no idea how ridiculous they all are.  There's no escape. 
I'm glad they all have their own places now."  He stops to sit with me at the bar and there's an awkward silence.  I find myself running my fingers across the counter top, searching for something else to say.  It's a nervous habit I have, apparently.

"I'm sorry about your house.  I really had a great time tonight until that happened."  It makes me smile when he says that.  Our conversation at dinner was just general-get-to-know-you talk.  I wasn't sure if he had moved me to possible friend status since he really hadn't flirted much since we left the bar. 

"I did, too.  We'll have to try it again sometime on a night there's not a planned break-in on my house."

"That
won’t be an issue in the future.  I can promise you that."

"I hope not."  The silence returns
, and for a second I think he's going to lean in and kiss me, but he doesn't.

"What do you have planned for tomorrow?  I'll see if I can get some guys over there to get the system installed and your windows replaced."

"Windows?  Are you kidding me?"

"No, I'm not kidding.  Your windows are older and extremely easy to get in through.  How do you think the person got in?"

"I have no idea.  I guess you're right and I don't want to take any chances.  I'll call Gus in the morning and tell him what's going on.  He can run the bar so I can make sure this is all taken care of."

"What security do you have at the bar?"

"Just a simple keypad system."

"I'll have it checked out, too."  He slides off the bar stool and brushes up against my arm.  Throwing away the whole issue about wanting to crash this date, my hopes begin to surface that he'll try something—
anything
—on me tonight.  I mean, after all, it's a perfect set up.

"I'm letting you have my bed.  I haven't bought beds for my guest rooms yet.  I really didn't see a
ny use for them until tonight."

"I can't take your
bed; I'll sleep on the couch."

"No,
I won’t have it any other way."  I know this about him.  He won’t stop until it's his way, we've already discovered this.  I can't win that game, but I can play a game of my own.

"Okay, but I have to warn you
, I sleep naked."  My words shock him and a smile spreads across his face as he prepares his retaliation.

"So do I." 
Oh my god.
  If I was wearing panties, they would've melted right off.  There isn't really a response I can give to that.  I'm sure he can read my reaction since it's bound to be written all over my face. 

Holden is sexy as hell
, and with him saying things like that, I'll
really
have a hard time staying away from him. 

Holden

Teasing her is easy.  I'm pretty sure it's the worst kind of torture for me at this point, but it can't hurt to lighten up the conversation after such a stressful ending to tonight. 

She's very sexy, and as the night has gone by, I've only become more attracted to her.  I've seen multiple layers of her personality and I like what I've seen so far.  She seems complicated, but it's a good complication.  Here I am, attracted to the
exact
thing I just got through saying I don't have time for. 

"Very funny."

"It wasn't a joke."

"I'm sure it wasn't."  She moves to pick up her bag and I don't waste the view of her bending over again.  This may be a very long night knowing that ass is just a room away from me. 

"Which room am I taking?"

"Last door on the right.  There's a big shower back there if you need to use it."

"Thanks."  She walks away slowly, almost like she wants to say something, but she never does. 

It isn't long and I can hear the water running.  Thoughts of her naked in my shower make it impossible to settle down for the night.  It actually gets to the point that I have to leave the house to keep from trying to join her.  Standing outside doesn't help much
, either.  I had no idea she would cause this stir-crazed lunatic to surface with just thoughts of her being naked.  Returning inside, I try to do everything to keep my mind occupied.  This is one of those moments I wish I wasn't such an obsessive person with everything perfectly in its place.   

The urge keeps climbing
, and just as I decide to say 'fuck it' and take the chance of getting in the shower with her, the sound of the water stops.  I put sheets on the couch and lock up the house before I pull off my shirt to finally attempt to get at least a little rest tonight.  Remembering the load of clothes in the dryer has a pair of shorts in it saves me from asking for a pair from my room.  I may have teased her about sleeping naked, but that isn't a good idea tonight.

Slipping the shorts on quickly before I
leave the laundry room, I notice a message from Eaven on my phone.

Eaven:  How did the date go?

Holden:  Well it actually hasn't ended yet.

Eaven:  :)  Told you!

Holden:  It's not like that.  I'll talk to you later!

I open the door to head to bed only to
find myself within a few feet of Lyndsey—her wet hair hanging down her back, in another tank top and a pair of tiny shorts. 
Fuck.  This is going to be hell.

"Oh
, sorry.  I thought you'd be in bed already.  I just need a glass of water."

"I'm about to be."  I watch her move through my kitchen like she's been
here many times.  She opens the cupboard where the glasses are and then the refrigerator to pour the water like she's done it a hundred times. 

"Do you want one
, too?"

"Nah.  I'm good."
  Watching her drink from that glass has somehow become one of the sexiest moments of the night.  This is ridiculous.  I need to get a grip and go the hell to bed.  Or should I say to hell with it and go for it?

"Thank you for everything tonight.  I can't tell you how nice it is to have someone treat me like you do.  It means a lot to me." 
Shit.  There goes that.
 

"You're welcome.  Sorry it ended like this."

"Ehh.  It's not such a bad way to end.  I mean, I'm ending it in your bed."

"Haha.  Yes
, you are!" 

"Are you sure you want to give up your bed?  I
can take the couch."

"I'm sure.  Take the bed."  I take the few steps it takes to become face to face with her.  I can at least end this date with the kiss I'm craving. 
She puts her arms around my neck and pulls me in for the kiss before I have a chance to make the first move.

Her kiss is aggressive and quickly has me running my hands down her back until my hands are full of
the ass that's been teasing me all night.  She takes my squeeze as an invitation to wrap her legs around my waist.  This is heating up quickly and I'm not about to backtrack now.

Chapter Seven

Lyndsey

He feels so good.  His kiss is just as sexy as I thought it would be.  It's time to move this along, so I don't hold back when he comes near.  He's trying to be polite and all, but that shit is overrated. 
It's sexy time, big guy.
 

He puts his hands on me and it just does something to move
things along even faster than I planned.  Before long, I've wrapped myself around him and our kiss is heated beyond any kiss I've experienced.  His tongue moves flawlessly over my lips and deep into my mouth, causing me to dive in like it's the last breath that I'll take. 

Once I've climbed around his hips, he begins to hold me and I le
t my hands explore.  His scruff scratches my palms as I desperately try to get closer to him. 

The second I saw him without a shirt, I knew it was a done deal.  T
he next thing I know, my back is up against the wall and I'm practically clawing at him for more.  The shorts he's wearing don’t allow for him to hide and I mean that in
all
aspects.  It's very obvious that he's just as turned on as I am.  The bulge rubbing up against me proves that, and by the size of that thing, I can't wait to take this further.

He breaks our kiss long enough to move down my neck and chest.  We both work to rip off my tank top.  I say a little mental
‘thank you’ to myself for not wearing a bra, so that it's one less thing getting in my way. 

It's like fast forward with everything happening so fast.  His kisses and licks are quick
ly traveling over each breast like his only mission is to cover every inch.  He pulls me higher up his body and I wrap my arms around his head while he devours every single sensitive area on my chest.  My senses are running wild and I can't imagine being anywhere else.

He slows his movement and our heavy breathing echoes through the room.  The rotation in my hips can't be stopped as I crave more.  His hands are full of my ass and he pulls me in close to his body as he stops moving his mouth over my skin.

"You're perfect."  His words brush across my nipple cooling it from the moisture he left behind.  The flick of his tongue causes my nipple to harden even more and chills run across my skin.  He repeats this on the other nipple, making me crazy in the process.

"I want you."  My words come through a whispering moan
, surprising me and encouraging him.  He slides me down, working to remove my shorts with the same desperation that I feel.   

His hands glide down my legs as he removes my shorts and I'm ready to do anything this man wants. 

He's different.  His touch is as though it's meant to make me feel like I'm the most attractive woman on the planet.  My sensations are on overload and I'm appreciating the rush of feelings his touch brings to the surface.  It's not as though he's on a mission to please himself and be done like the last few guys I've been with.  He seems to truly want to cherish me and this does so much to turn me on even more than I thought possible.

He turns me around to face the wall and continues to brush his fingers across my exposed skin. 
Standing behind me, with my breasts filling both of his hands, he begins to rub up against my back side.  His thickness follows up the crack of my ass and back down with repetition.  The smooth material of his shorts makes each pass happen without the friction that I know we both want.