Hold Me Never (Holding Never) (30 page)

He turns to kiss me on the cheek, then on the lips,
supporting me around the waist. I can feel his hardness beneath me,
his growing erection stabbing into the bottom of my thigh. I shift
so that I can feel his rock hard cock at my buttocks, pressing up
between my legs. I rock slightly and he moans into my neck. I wish
I could part my legs and straddle him, but I don't have the strength
yet.

All I can do is sit on his lap and grind down on him.
“Oh Zoey...” he grits out against my neck.

He closes his eyes, his forehead falling against mine.
“I thought I would never hold you in my arms again,” he
whispers.

I touch his whiskered cheek lightly—how long has
he gone without shaving, without sleeping and eating?

“
I thought I would never see you again,” I
tell him, running my thumb over his lips. “When I was being
whipped, I...”

I feel his muscles tense as his hands tighten around my
body. His eyes are dark and blazing with a deadly promise.

As he forces himself to loosen his hold on me, he grates
hoarsely, “Did I hurt you?”

I shake my head.

Nothing can hurt me anymore.

Jaxon flinches as if I had spoken the words aloud. I
bite my lip and wince. Had I?

I glance up at my hand print on his cheek. I must have
slapped him pretty hard just now. He follows my eyes, and to my
surprise, starts to smile. “You've regained some of your
strength,” he says. “But you'll need to regain all of
it.”

Loud, long rumbling can be heard in response.

We stare down at our stomachs and start laughing.

“
Even our bellies speak in unison,” I
chuckle.

Gently, he lowers me to the mattress. “I'll go
get you something to eat.”

I put my hand on his arm. “Will you eat with me?”

“
I will,” he says with feeling. “I
want to eat, breathe and sleep with you. I will fight for you, fight
for a future...”

I sway slightly, as I hear the young soldier's frantic
report in my head once more:
“
Your Majesty,
Commander
Jaxon Ryleth
has been
captured,
likely
killed
by the rebels!
”

The news had killed me. I remember my crushing despair
and grief, the terrible sense of loss and defeat, the dark void that
I had spiraled into when I thought that Jaxon had died, that he had
left me, forever.

I don't think I can ever go through that again.

I grab his arm in a sudden panic. “No! Don't.
Don't fight! It's too dangerous!” I stare into his face with
wide, wild eyes. “What if you're...”

“
Killed?” he says gently, putting his large
hand over mine. “Zoey, we are already dead. If we don't
fight, we remain dead. If we fight, we have a chance to live. The
chance of a future. And for this, I will fight, for a future with
you. To be with you, to live with you, to have a future with you, is
a dream come true. I will fight for this dream, for this life, for
this love. You are my heart, Zoey, my life.”

I hold his gaze for a long time. In those deep brown
eyes, I see passion and pride, hope and hunger, love and loss. I see
a soldier, a leader, a man, a lover. I see the brave, young Captain
who had tried to save my mother, and who had come back for me in the
middle of the night.

“
I won't lose, Zoey. I won't die. I won't let
go.” He gives me his promise as he takes my hand firmly in
his. “I won't lose you. I have you to fight for, to bleed
for, to live for. I will hold you forever.”

For the longest time, I search his face for the tiniest
trace of doubt. There is none.

I blink at last, and I see myself in his eyes.

He has suffered, sacrificed and survived. So have I.

So have so many others.

So many lives and loves lost.

For this dream, for this life, for this love.

“
I will fight.”

I suck in a sharp, painful breath and gulp. Jaxon
strokes my cheek gently, assuring me, comforting me, steadying me.

“
Rest, Zoey. I'll go get you something to eat
now. I can feel your hunger,” he teases gently. His eyes are
shining with a strong, unwavering light. With a smile, he turns to
go but I catch his hand.

Clearing my throat, I look up at him. My voice is clear
and strong this time.

“
I will fight.”

With you.

For you.

For us.

End

*****

HOLD ME NEVER

BREAK ME NEVER

(Book Two of the Holding
Never series)

Coming November 2013!

About the Author

Natalie Kristen is a writer who enjoys mixing the sweet
with the spicy, the light with the dark, the possibilities with the
unimaginable. She enjoys exploring dystopian and paranormal worlds,
dangerous desires and impossible, inspiring romances. She is
hopelessly addicted to coffee, chocolate, reading and writing. She
loves to hear from readers so please feel free to follow her on
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