Hold Read online

  Table of Contents

  Hold

  Chapter 1

  Eve

  Chapter 2

  Sam

  Chapter 3

  Sam

  Chapter 4

  Eve

  Chapter 5

  Sam

  Chapter 6

  Sam

  Chapter 7

  Eve

  Chapter 8

  Sam

  Chapter 9

  Eve

  Chapter 10

  Sam

  Chapter 11

  Sam

  Chapter 12

  Eve

  Chapter 13

  Sam

  Chapter 14

  Eve

  Chapter 15

  Sam

  Chapter 16

  Eve

  Chapter 17

  Sam

  Chapter 18

  Sam

  Chapter 19

  Eve

  Chapter 20

  Sam

  Chapter 21

  Eve

  Chapter 22

  Eve

  The End.

  Acknowledgments

  instagram: @kristibeckhartauthor

  Text copyright ©2017 by the Author.

  This work was made possible by a special license through the Kindle Worlds publishing program and has not necessarily been reviewed by Flip City Media Inc.. All characters, scenes, events, plots and related elements appearing in the original The Drazen World remain the exclusive copyrighted and/or trademarked property of Flip City Media Inc., or their affiliates or licensors.

  For more information on Kindle Worlds: http://www.amazon.com/kindleworlds

  This is dedicated to all single parents. You are amazing.

  Hold

  by Kristi Beckhart

  Chapter 1

  Eve

  Soft light from the candles in the center of each rustic wooden table in the restaurant cast a warm glow around us. Sam reaches for the wine bottle to refill our glasses. His other hand is on my thigh, seething hot in its contact with my skin, burning a trail of energy through me that lands between my legs, where I have been swollen and needing his touch for too many days. I can barely tolerate a whole day without him pressing any part of his body on mine, but our schedules are too crazy.

  Our group is an eclectic mix of my friends tonight: Sam; my friend Monica; my bestie, Mia; and a few of my co-workers from Hotel K. For Monica, it’s kind of a reunion since she used to work there too. Laughter pours from the end of the long table where my co-workers sit. At my end of the table, Sam and Mia are getting to know one another more, and I’m next to Monica, who is checking her phone every five minutes. It’s been a real great conversation, let me tell you.

  “Hey.” I put my hand on hers. “What’s going on? You’re obsessing over your phone.”

  Monica smiles and looks up. “That’s what I like about you, Eve. You’re up-front about demanding information.”

  I know Monica has girlfriends she spends more time with than me, but I’m guessing she agreed to this dinner since I already know some of the details about her relationship with Jonathan Drazen. I was worried about possible abuse, but I think I’m starting to get why it’s not.

  “Well, you know I try to be honest,” I say, feeling Sam’s hand trail a line on my skin under the table.

  “Yeah, well… did you hear Jonathan was arrested? I probably shouldn't talk to you about this since he’s your boss, but I don’t have anyone else. My best friend is dead.” She lowers her eyes and shakes her glass so the ice cubes in her tumbler splash into the remaining whiskey. “And I can’t really say much to Darren since they don’t exactly have a bromance brewing.”

  “Oh, man, what? I had no idea he was arrested. You’ve had a tough couple of weeks.” I squeeze her hand. “You can tell me details… or not. I won’t say anything.”

  She looks me in the eye. “Not one of my other friends asked about the man at my side at Gabby’s funeral. They just introduced themselves and asked me roundabout questions.” She shakes her head. “Anyway, his ex-wife is accusing him of abuse.”

  “Whoa. Monica—”

  “I know what you’re gonna say, but no. He’s never hurt me in a way I didn’t like. Jessica went to them with photos proving he’d abused her during sex. It’s been two days since these female cops questioned me and told me they’d protect me from him and the sex I crave with him. Two days and I’ve heard nothing. Technically, we’re broken up, but I’d like to know if he’s alright.”

  “So, all you can do is check your phone.” I’m boiling inside, but I’m trying to hide it. What if he really is abusing her? “God, are you okay?”

  “Of course, I’m okay. He used his belt on her, but it’s very simple,” she says, her voice clipped and direct. “His belt is for holding up his pants and binding me. His body, any part of it, is to give me pleasure and pain. If he gives any other woman either of those things with his body or any clothing accessory, it feels like cheating.” She turns her head away.

  “Monica…”

  “Eve. Pleasure, not abuse. I’m okay.” She looks at me. “But the minute we’re broken up, he goes to his ex.”

  “Oh, man. The hits keep on coming. What will you do if he calls right now?”

  “I don’t know. I think I’m gonna go clean my refrigerator.” She shrugs. “How are you and Sam? I never would have put you two together, but it looks like you’re getting on.”

  “Uh, yeah. It’s pretty intense. I have a feeling that he and Jonathan are a lot alike, although we haven’t crossed the pain/pleasure threshold and I have no plans to,” I say in a hushed tone.

  Monica stares at me for a moment, jaw open. “Wow… really?”

  “Really.”

  “I am. Utterly. Shocked,” Monica says with her head tilted.

  “I know. I still struggle with it, but I’ve been reading these feminist blogs online about being dominated in the bedroom and I’m coming around. Well, to be honest, I’m coming multiple times, but I’m learning that’s to be expected.”

  We burst into laughter, but further conversation is interrupted when Monica’s phone bloops. She snatches it from the table and takes a quick breath. I glance at Sam, who’s listening to Mia, but his eyes are on mine. They’re stormy blue, with a deep energy that burns through me and puts my nipples and clit at attention. If his hand moves anywhere on my skin, I could combust.

  Monica squeezes my hand and stands. “It’s him.” She shows me her phone screen, and I see the words Can you play? “I’m still feeling ragey, but I have to go see him.”

  “Okay. I’m here if you need me.”

  We say our good-byes and I watch her walk out. I’m about to check my own phone, but Sam pushes his hand between my legs under the tablecloth. The rushing need I feel intensifies from seeing the word play on Monica’s phone. He reaches the soft, warm place he’s searching for, but withdraws his hand when his phone lights up. He sighs and looks at me. Whatever his phone says obviously doesn’t make him happy.

  “Excuse me for a minute, would you?” He taps a kiss on my cheek.

  Before I can respond, he stands and walks out.

  Chapter 2

  Sam

  As I walk brusquely around the tall stone archways at the entrance to the historic building where we are having dinner, my phone chirps with a second text from Debbie, the manager of my bar at the Stock hotel.

  —situation handled—

  No, situation not handled. I don’t know what’s going on, but there has been a rise in drunken episodes lately. I rely on Debbie to be on top of these things—hell, we’ve known each other for so long, she has almost handled too many business and personal situations for me to count—but this seems to be getting out of control.

  I f
ind the contact for head of security in my phone and dial. Before he can speak, I snap, “Hey, what’s going on? Why can’t you get rid of this guy? Or is there more than one guy?”

  “No, just one. He looks like a bum. He says he wants to use a credit card to buy drinks for people, but the credit card doesn’t work. Then he gets pissy about something and gets pretty loud, talking about his girlfriend or something. This is the second time it’s happened, so we threatened to call the police and have him detained if he comes back.”

  “Okay, stay on it. We can’t have that kind of disruption to business.”

  “We’re on it, boss.”

  But I want to know why this has been happening so much lately, and usually when I’m not there. Disruptions are part of the service business—there’s a guy in every crowd—but this one just won’t seem to get the message to stay the fuck away.

  I walk back into the restaurant and weave through the tables toward ours. Eve’s soft emerald eyes follow me around the end of the table as I approach my chair next to hers. Her elbow is on the table with her chin in her hand, her face and posture relaxed, her eyes hooded. My dick is immediately called to attention when she leans back, exposing the deep cleavage between her perfect tits and the soft lines of her curves. She’s wearing this fucking amazing shirt that hugs her chest in all the right places.

  Her hands are in my lap as soon as I sit down. The conversation with Mia and her co-workers continues as we feel each other up under the table. This is pretty typical for us whether we’re in public or not. It’s risky with others at the table, but that makes it all the better.

  Our need for each other usually becomes so unbearably strong that we have to rush out of whatever social situation we’re in, which is what’s happening right now. The temptation to haul her into the restaurant bathroom passes, but I’m sure she wouldn’t object. She’s mine and she knows it. I’m pretty sure she would fuck me anywhere I want. All I have to do is get between her legs, and she becomes one hundred percent willing to try anything I suggest.

  We’re supposed to get rain here in LA, which happens so rarely, it’s hard to remember what it’s like. Eve isn’t a native Californian and says the air smells like rain, and I believe her. Thanks to the way LA traffic becomes when it rains, we cut our dinner short and head out.

  Soon enough on our drive home, tiny drops hit my windshield. My housekeeper is watching Aaron tonight since Eve’s sitter bailed. It’s after eight, so I suspect he’s already asleep in his crib thingy in one of the bedrooms.

  The garage door closes behind us just before the torrential downpour hits. Thank fuck we dodged that bullet.

  “I don’t remember rain like this,” I say, helping Eve out of the car.

  “I love rain like this. It usually happens in the spring though, in Minnesota. It makes me want to stay in bed and cuddle up with you all night.”

  “I like that idea.”

  We make our way up to my bedroom, kissing and clawing at each other’s clothes. We fuck in a chair just inside the door and finish hard and fast against the French doors leading out to the balcony.

  With her tits pushed up against the windows, I’m behind her, holding on to her bent knee, her foot up and braced against the door frame. Fuck. I have such deep access to her cunt, I’m about to blow.

  “Eve. Come. Now,” I bark between gasps.

  “Y-es. Y-es. Y-es.”

  Her voice is interrupted each time I go root deep, pounding into her harder, faster, bringing deep moans from her chest. I’ve hit the place inside her she longs to have stroked, and my thrusts tear a scream from her throat. I stop, grab her discarded panties, and shove them onto her tongue before keeping my hand over her mouth and pressing hard. I grip her face like this, because it always makes her come harder. Her legs shake and give out from under her as we convulse and come together, collapsing into a heap on the plush white carpet.

  Sex is different with Eve. She’s not like the subs I used to have around. Getting her to submit takes some persuading, but I love how strong-willed and stubborn she is. It’s a challenge for me and makes pursuing her more fun. Every time we fuck, by the time I finally break her down, I’m fucking high from all the blood rushing to my dick.

  Being with Eve is the hottest sex I’ve ever had. Hands down. Hotter than any fantasies about Theresa Drazen. Hotter than the women I had while I was at Stanford. Hotter than any of Debbie’s parties.

  Chapter 3

  Sam

  Between the need for a post-orgasm nap and the soothing sound of the rain on my bedroom roof, we’re in our own world, eyes closed, fingers grazing skin, breathing deep and relaxed. As I start to drift off, I’m jolted awake by the sound of our phones chiming with a weather alert. With those texts comes the realization that Eve and Aaron will have to spend the night. I know that makes Eve nervous since he’s only one year old and I have a pool, but I’m hoping she’ll realize we can keep him inside.

  As we scramble to get dressed to go downstairs, the first thing I grab is that amazing shirt and pull it over her head.

  “God, Eve, that shirt.” I squeeze her breasts and ravage her lips.

  She giggles and pushes me away. “I have to get my shorts on.”

  I grab her hips and pull her to me. “I like your shorts off better.”

  We watch as our hips rub together, my cock already straining to meet her through her underwear.

  She shivers. “If we don’t stop, I’m gonna come again.”

  “Fuck. Me too.” Somehow, I find the strength to step away from her and pull on a pair of sweatpants.

  “You forgot your underwear.”

  “Nope, I didn’t.” I wink, grabbing my balls. “You’re probably staying here tonight, so I won’t be needing any.”

  “You think I’ll be staying here?”

  “Let’s go look at the weather,” I say, grabbing her hand.

  ******

  Lupita, my housekeeper, is in the kitchen with the TV blaring when we get downstairs. She always has that thing on, and it’s always loud. I don’t think she’s hard of hearing. Maybe it’s her way of giving me privacy.

  “Ah, Mr. Sam, how you are doing tonight? Ms. Eve, nice to see you again,” she says in broken English.

  “Great. Thanks for watching Aaron. Looks like the weather’s pretty bad, huh?” I squeeze Eve’s shoulders under my arm.

  “Oh, he is a good boy, that Aaron.”

  “Yes, thank you, Lupita. I appreciate it so much. Here, I have some money for you,” Eve says, reaching for her purse.

  “It’s already covered,” I say, winking at Lupita.

  “Yes, Ms. Eve. You don’t worry,” she says, winking back. “I can take care of Aaron any time you and Sam want to go.” She makes a shooing gesture toward us.

  Eve gives me a side-eye glance. “That’s so nice of you, Lupita. Thank you. Aaron went to sleep okay for you?”

  “Oh, yes. He is a good boy. I just love to squeeze him.” Lupita giggles.

  Lupita and her family have worked for my family for decades. I was happy to oblige Lupita and hire her when I moved to LA. She wanted to follow her son and his family when he moved here for work after college, so it worked out for both of us.

  After Eve checks on Aaron in the guest room, we settle back into my bed and listen to the rain. It’s so loud, the sound is almost an invasion to my ears, but it woos me back into the trance I was in before.

  Life has been good to me. I have great parents, a great education, and a great job. For years, I’ve ignored the nagging feeling that something is missing. I convinced myself that if I couldn’t have Theresa, then I didn’t need anyone. I could go it alone. Work. Buy a house. Have lots of sex.

  But with Eve cuddled up beside me, I feel a tiny flicker of possibility, like a tiny star in the horizon of a black night sky. I feel peace in the possibility of what’s to come. Apparently, the rain is cleansing in many ways.

  I whisper into Eve’s ear, “Hey, are you awake?”

  “
Yes.”

  “Would you like to come home with me? Visit the winery? Stomp some grapes?”

  She turns around to face me, moves her hand to my cheek, and wraps her leg around my hip, but she doesn’t answer.

  “The wild mustard will be blooming soon since it’s raining. The whole vineyard will be covered in yellow flowers. I’d love to take you there.”

  Her eyes sparkle, but her eyebrows furrow slightly. I can tell she’s trying to figure something out.

  “We can take Aaron. He’ll love it there.”

  A smile slowly spreads across her face. “Then yes, I would love to.”

  I kiss her lips and her beautiful face. We make love with a slow, burning intensity. Quiet gasps escape from her mouth into mine as we rock to the sounds of the rain and wind and climax together during a roll of thunder. It’s cheesy as fuck, but I’m starting to notice things like that. I believe in fate and that the events tonight happened for a reason. Having her here all night in my arms makes me want to claim her again and again, mark her as mine, but it’s more than that. I’m not sure I’m ready to admit it yet, but I think I might be falling for her.

  Chapter 4

  Eve

  Oh, damn.

  This shit is getting real.

  I’m going to meet his parents. I’m slightly freaking out because this feels like a big step for us, but I really want to go. I’ve had a few days to think about it and the thought of a weekend away with him sounds amazing, and I love that he wants to bring Aaron.

  Mia bounces in my front door and sweeps Aaron into her arms. They bop each other on the nose and talk about the “but-ton” on her shirt before they point out her ears, her eyes, her mouth. Aaron claps each time he names them all. Eventually she looks at the coffee cups on the table, already set with half and half in the creamer dish instead of the carton, homemade blueberry muffins, real butter in a butter dish, and eggs and bacon on serving dishes.