“Thank you for saving my ass tonight,” Holt said. “I can’t believe Decker caught me so easily.”
Isabelle couldn’t believe Holt was thanking her. “I seem to remember you being the one risking your life for me. I don’t think you need to thank me. Now that it’s over, what did you think the odds were that the plan was going to work? Be honest with me.”
“Oh, probably about fifty-fifty,” Holt said, smiling slightly. “It was a shit plan.”
“Then why did you go with it?” Isabelle was pretty sure she knew the answer, but she needed Holt to tell her. If they were going to be a team going forward, they had to be open and honest with each other.
“Because the alternative wasn’t an option,” Holt said. “And before you ask me to, no, I won’t promise to never do it again. If your life is in danger, I’m going to do whatever I can to protect you. I guess Decker Pence was right about that. We’ll both do whatever it takes to get what we want when it matters enough.”
“You are nothing like Decker Pence, my love.” Isabelle was horrified Holt even entertained the thought.
“We might be similar, but I have you. If I ever consider crossing a line, or going too far, you’re my guiding light. God, I’m glad you are willing to take a chance on me.”
“You’re worth the chance. And I won’t ask you not to protect me because I know that’s like talking to a brick wall, but promise me you won’t take unnecessary chances. I’ve let you in, and now I don’t know how I would live without you in my life. Don’t you dare do anything that would make my happily ever after impossible.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Holt said, kissing her. “Shower with me? I smell like fear, and I’ve got bloody bits to wash off.”
They undressed each other and Holt adjusted the water. She wrapped her arms around Isabelle from behind. Isabelle felt like she was experiencing everything in amplified, exquisite detail. Holt’s touch ignited her in ways no one ever had. She wanted to kiss her slowly all night and be devoured quickly at the same time.
Her breath caught as Holt ran her hands from her stomach up and across each breast. Her nipples jumped to attention and her clit throbbed hopefully.
“Holt, baby, I know you can see the size of the bruise on your chest.” Holt seemed to have no sense of concern about her own vulnerabilities.
“I’m fine,” Holt said against Isabelle’s back. Holt’s breath against Isabelle’s wet skin was making rational thought difficult.
“Let me clean you up,” Isabelle said. She took Holt’s hands in hers and washed the cuts and scrapes carefully. She wiped the blood off her face and carefully soaped around the giant black and blue spot spreading across Holt’s chest. She shampooed Holt’s hair and let her hands wander along Holt’s tattoos as she rinsed her hair.
“Go get ready, love. I’ll be right in,” Isabelle said, suddenly unable to keep her body under control.
Holt shot out of the shower. Isabelle laughed as Holt toweled off quickly and hustled into the bedroom. No one had ever been able to explain to her what true love felt like in a way that made her believe it existed. Now she knew why. How could she tell someone that true, deep, real love was a naked ass hopping through the bedroom toweling off wet feet? Some things were best discovered on your own.
“Help me with this?” Holt asked, lying on the bed trying to get her towel from underneath her.
She was moving with more stiffness than Isabelle guessed she wanted her to see. Gently, Isabelle pulled the towel from under Holt. “You stay there, baby. Don’t move.”
Isabelle dropped the towel by the side of the bed and started slowly marking a trail of kisses across Holt’s body. She moved from Holt’s lips to nibble on her ears, then down her neck to her chest. She lingered a breath away from each breast but didn’t touch either. Holt’s nipples were hard, but she stayed just away. When it looked like Holt was in physical pain, Isabelle relented and sucked one hard nipple in her mouth while massaging the other breast with her hand. She was careful to avoid the expanding bruise in the middle of Holt’s chest.
“God, you feel good, baby,” Isabelle said, marveling at the hard planes and soft skin.
“I’m wound a little tight here, Isabelle. You’ve been making me crazy for weeks.”
Isabelle toyed with Holt until she knew she was close to coming, and then worked lower, across the rippled abs and down to the tender skin where stomach meets hip. Holt’s breathing was irregular, and she was squirming. She tried to get her hands on Isabelle, but Isabelle redirected them above her head.
“You are so sexy,” Isabelle said.
She moved back to Holt’s mouth and kissed her deeply, a kiss of ownership and commitment. She straddled Holt’s stomach and leaned over her, putting her breasts within reach of Holt’s mouth. This time, Holt didn’t leave her hands above her head but pulled Isabelle closer, taking each breast in turn, into her mouth.
“Please, baby,” Isabelle whispered, her breath hitched.
Holt pulled Isabelle’s hips forward until she was gently resting over her face. “Your chest…”
Holt licked Isabelle’s clit, and Isabelle forgot her worries. Holt drew her closer still and sucked her clit into her mouth, running her tongue over the sensitive skin.
Isabelle leaned forward over Holt’s head, steadying herself against the back of the bed. Holt looked mesmerized.
“Be careful, baby,” Isabelle said between gasped breaths. “I’m really close.”
“That’s okay. I’m done teasing you,” Holt said, increasing the speed of her attentions.
“Kiss me. Don’t stop kissing me. Show me you’re real,” Isabelle said.
Holt kissed her clit, then drew Isabelle fully into her mouth. Isabelle felt herself swell and she pumped her hips against Holt’s mouth. She came with a shudder and slid back down Holt’s body.
She wanted full body contact, the kind that spoke more about feelings and promises than words were capable of describing. She started rubbing circles across Holt’s stomach and quickly worked her way lower.
“I’m happy to just hold you,” Holt said.
“Oh no,” Isabelle said, dipping her fingers into Holt’s wetness. “We’re done with the days of you sacrificing everything for me. Okay by you?”
“Don’t stop what you’re doing,” Holt said, gasping.
Isabelle slid through Holt’s arousal and slipped inside with two fingers. Holt nearly came off the bed as she sunk deep. Isabelle kissed her and bit her lip hard.
“I’m coming,” Holt said, her body tensing in pleasure.
Holt shuddered as Isabelle pulled her fingers out. She collapsed against Holt and they held each other tightly.
“This has been one hell of a day,” Holt said, kissing the top of Isabelle’s head.
“One hell of a courtship. You sure do know how to show a girl a good time.”
“What do you mean? Holt said, laughing. “We hung out by the pool, you invited me to your office party, we had hot wieners, I took you to a party, we got a fireworks show. I am a good fucking time.”
“I love you,” Isabelle said. “Let’s just love each other tonight. We can figure out the rest of it in the morning.”
“That is the best plan I’ve heard in months,” Holt said, gently rolling herself on top of Isabelle. “I can handle anything tomorrow brings, as long as every tonight includes you.”
*
After the best night in Holt’s memory, she wasn’t happy to be woken by her cell phone at five a.m. She was even less amused when Lola informed her she was outside and needed to talk.
“I’ll be right back, baby,” she said, kissing Isabelle when she grunted her sleepy protest to Holt leaving their cozy bed.
Holt padded to the door. Lola was lucky Holt had boxers and a T-shirt on. Isabelle was only wearing a T-shirt when she followed Holt to the door.
“What trouble is knocking at the door now? Do I need pants?”
“Depends on how you feel about Lola seeing your cute butt,” Holt said.
She was concerned that Lola was here at this hour, especially after the night they had all had. She pulled the door open and Lola stumbled in looking like she hadn’t slept since they had parted ways at the warehouse.
“Hi, Isabelle, H. I’m sorry to bother you, but I think we have a problem.”
“Holy hell,” Isabelle said. “This looks like it’s going to require pants.” She ducked behind the screen and hollered back to Lola, “When was the last time you ate anything? You look like hell. Never mind. Don’t answer. I’m hungry. I’m cooking you breakfast. Holt, you better have food in that enormous stainless steel fridge.”
“What’s up, Lola?” Holt asked, getting Lola settled on the couch.
“Well, I think someone stole your truck, based on the glass in your driveway, and there’s this,” Lola said, holding up a small piece of plastic.
“Is that a pregnancy test?” Isabelle asked from the kitchen, looking shocked.
Lola nodded.
“It was taped to the door when I got home last night. My girlfriend is gone, and I’ve been looking for her ever since,” Lola said.
“And someone stole my truck?” Holt asked. “Well, that’s the shit. Looks like I might need pants now too.”
“I thought you said your job was boring,” Isabelle said. “I think I’ve been bamboozled. It’s a good thing I love you.”