Dig

by L.A. Ferro

"Holden, everyone’s staring—"

"Yeah, that’s kind of the point. Apparently, everyone needed a remind...

"I knew you were going to be a problem."

"Tell me, pretty girl, have you thought about me as much as I’ve thought about you?"

she was all I could think about.

She has consumed every waking thought since I laid eyes on her.

A relationship is the last thing I need or want, but I can’t ...

I purposefully didn’t text her all day, and it killed me. I wanted to hear her sass. Hell, part of me craved it. She is ...

I don’t want a fucking puppet. I want Aria.

I swear those eyes could get me to do anything.

There’s a reason the entire bench and small audience in the bleachers watched in awe as I walked over to Aria. When I play, I’m all in. There is no halfway, not even out here playing beer tournaments. This is off-season rec ball, it’s not that serious, but that’s never stopped me from treating it like any other game.

She managed to do what’s never been done. Aria didn’t just steal my focus. She smashed it to pieces by just existing. I left the dugout and the game for her to make sure everyone knew she was mine, including her. The fact that she showed up said as much. Whether she knows it yet or not is a different story.

I want her to be herself, and I’m hoping what I have up my sleeve will be perfect.

"There’s a reason I want to feed you, Aria."

"Oh yeah? And why is that?"

"Because I made it."

"You can cook?"

"Are you making fu...

Shaking her head, ‘no’, her smile starts to fade, her eyes zero in on my mouth, and I can’t take it anymore. Since the moment our eyes met, I've seen it. This woman wants me just as much as ...

Setting her on the tailgate, I take her hand and place it on my rock-hard cock, and she gasps. Then, bringing my eyes to hers, I ensure I have her attention before I say,

"This is all because of you, pretty girl so don’t do that. Don't for a second think that you are not what I want. I want you so bad it hurts."

I can’t just have parts of her when I need all of her.

"This was your plan all along, wasn't it? Take me to a farm pond, soak my clothes, and get me naked."

I can’t help but laugh out loud, a deep belly laugh. "No. I wish I could say that was my plan, but I think we both know if I wanted you wet and wrapped around me, I wouldn’t have to trick you into it."

Feeding her makes me happier than it should. I want to take care of her, and I love that I made her something she liked.

I want to crush my mouth to hers, but there’s only one first kiss, and I want this one to last.

"Pretty girl, you taste like forever."

"You’re mine now, Aria. Do you get that?"

She nods before bringing her swollen lips back to mine, and thrusting her tongue into my mouth.

"Do you see what you do to me, pretty girl? This is everything. You are all I want."

I want her to feel comfortable around me. I need her to, because somehow, over the last 24 hours, she’s become my everything.

"Aria, I want all of you, not parts of you. There is nothing under this shirt that will change that for me. You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. Let me worship you, pretty girl."

"I know this because I’m just as fucking scared. I feel it, Aria. It’s all or nothing with us, baby, and I can feel you falling; let me catch you."

When I brush my tongue against hers, only giving her a taste, she dives in, demanding that I give her what she seeks. And because I could never refuse her, I let her take it. This kiss is us.

Insane chemistry, timid minds, and crazy hearts, because only a fool could fall this hard so fast. She knows it, and I know it, but neither of us cares to stop it.

"Pretty girl, you’re so fucking wet, you’re making a mess on my pants, and I love it."

I’m not the one that broke you, I’m not someone you need to fear, I’m just a man who wants to be a part of your world."

This woman scares the shit out of me in the best of ways. I’ve never met someone and instantly fallen so hard. I know what I feel is real. She could be my forever—if I have one to give.

I will admit, I was surprised when he said he could see my demons. Even my closest friends don’t see those.

If I’ve learned anything about Holden in the last 48 hours, it’s that his love language is physical touch.

I want to get back to the girl I used to be. I miss her so much.

But my heart sank when the doctor explained that my irregular cycles and almost nonexistent periods meant I could be causing irreversible damage to my reproductive health. I haven’t put much thought into having kids, but knowing it might not even be an option when I’m ready made me sick.

I typically like to stick to black and gray

"I’m going to need you to take your hands off my girl before we have a problem."

"Don’t bother coming back. She’s mine."

He sees parts of me that no one else does. He sees my pain, and he's here regardless.

Rather than answer my question, he stops dead in his tracks, picks me up, and throws me over his shoulder, catching me off-guard and causing me to shriek.

"Oh my god. Holden, you’re making a scene."

He slaps my ass. "I know exactly what I’m doing. Making sure everyone knows who...

"Aria, I’m done playing games. I gave you a week. I’m not giving you any more time."