Holden's Resurrection (Gemini Group #6) - Riley Edwards Page 0,72

to have.”

“That’s not true.”

“I don’t know how you can deny that, considering it happened.”

If Holden could pull the words back, he would. He had to stop thinking about Paul and the past. He needed to move them into the future.

“I was pregnant,” she spat. “Then I was busy with a newborn. After that, I was working hard to put food on the table and a roof over our heads. I hardly had time for men.”

He hated she’d been all alone. Another regret. He should’ve manned up and taken care of her. Even if it was from afar. Even after she denied the financial contribution he and the others tried to make. Actually, Charleigh hadn’t denied it—she’d flat-out refused it and told Nixon never to send money again. Still, Holden should’ve pushed the issue. Instead, his feelings had been hurt like a baby’s and he’d slithered off to lick his wounds.

God, he’d been a pussy.

Holden crowded her, one hand going to her hip, the other around the nape of her neck, and he tugged Charleigh forward, eliminating the space between them. “I never should’ve—”

“No more talking about the past. It’s done and over.”

Charleigh was right, but he was certain the nagging guilt would never go away.

“No more talking,” he agreed.

The two of them stood silent. Charleigh’s familiar scent surrounded him, a smell he’d always associated with home. With peace and calm and love. Desire sizzled and sparked to life. A live wire of craving that had always arced between them.

Then Charleigh attacked.

Her hands dove into his hair, fisting two large handfuls. Pain radiated over his scalp as she yanked his head down and slammed her lips onto his.

Christ. He had to be dreaming.

Charleigh’s head slanted and she took what she wanted. Holden gave her a moment to control their kiss, enjoying the way her body leaned into his as she dipped her tongue into his mouth and plundered. The kiss was sloppy, it was fierce, it was full of years’ worth of pent-up aggression and longing.

In other words, it was the best damn kiss of his life, but it was about to get better.

Holden’s hand slid down her back, his other moved from her hip to her ass, then he hefted her up and Charleigh’s legs wrapped around his waist. He didn’t hesitate, he moved with the singular thought of getting the woman in his arms to a bed. To take. To please. To own. His ascent up the stairs was clumsy, the walk down the hall to his room uncoordinated. Charleigh hadn’t stopped her carnal assault, and the onslaught of emotions spurred him on, need thrumming through his body. Every inch of him alive.

Finally.

He had his Leigh-Leigh back.

He kicked the door closed, locked it, and now that he had them in his room, he wanted everything at once. But first, her clothes needed to come off. He set her on her feet with absolutely no finesse—he was far beyond delicacy.

“Off,” he managed to grunt as he tugged at her shirt.

Once she took over, Holden went for his own tee and yanked it over his head, tossing it aside.

Years. So many goddamned years he’d waited to have her again. Wanting and needing but never thinking he’d have her. Never believing he would have her back.

Holden had been caught up in the frenzy of ridding himself of his clothes he’d missed Charleigh doing the same, so when his gaze finally lifted and he caught sight of her, he froze and his breath left his lungs in a whoosh.

Leigh-Leigh.

No words were spoken, yet a wealth of communication whispered between them. The sight of her in front of him unbearable—so beautiful, so perfect, it burned his soul. He’d needed her for so long he couldn’t wait another second.

This time, it was Holden who moved first. His advance was swift, single-minded, and when he had her on the bed, he didn’t give her time to settle before he spread her legs. But at the last second, he changed direction and his lips landed on the inside of her thigh.

Sweet Jesus.

His—all for him.

When his tongue made its way to her pussy, he gave her a long swipe from ass to clit and paused to suck the nub into his mouth, resulting in a long, low moan from Charleigh.

Oh, yeah, he was going to eat her until she screamed. His woman wasn’t shy about what she wanted, never had been. Sex with Charleigh was an epic battle. It was on that thought, he swung her leg over