Page 31 of Reece & Holden (Gomillion High Reunion #6)

CHAPTER THIRTY

Reece

A noise wakes me and I open one eye to see Holden placing a mug of coffee on the nightstand.

“I hope you’re coming back to bed,” I murmur, and he climbs back in beside me. I fold myself around him, always needing to be close.

“What do you want to do today?” he asks.

“You,” I say lazily, and receive a delightful giggly snort, which only makes my body respond more to him. I shift slightly so he can feel my hardness against his leg to prove my point.

“But after that?”

There’s an after? It’s Sunday, Holden’s only day off from opening the store.

I want to spend every minute with him, and in bed seems like the perfect way to me.

The last week has been fantastic, waking up with Holden every morning, him going to the store while I do what work I can, and then me joining him.

Sometimes Clara comes to work or just to hang out.

We had another movie night and finished the marathon, and we’ve even been out to a couple of bars—Tallboys and another across town.

I’ve seen Miles a couple of times, and he’s waved to me and said hi.

But right now I can’t think of anywhere I’d rather be than in bed with Holden with nothing more pressing to deal with than my rock-hard dick.

“What did you have in mind?” I ask, because I’m pretty sure if he asked the question then he has an idea.

“I thought we could go back up to where we went last Sunday.”

“You want a repeat performance?” I ask with a grin.

“No. Well, yes, but I thought we could actually do some hiking instead.”

I think about it, warming to the idea. I could do with some exercise. I usually swim regularly, but I haven’t done any of that while I’ve been here, and I can feel the effects of neglecting it.

“Okay.” I agree. “We could also have brunch first over at Fresh Brew on our way. Right after this.”

I cover his body with mine and kiss him deeply, feeling his own need hard up against my own. I groan as his hand grips our cocks together. We might be late for brunch.

We stand looking down at the same valley we did last week, except this time I’m not thinking about the past and what I could’ve been. My thoughts are on the future.

“I’ve been thinking,” I say in my very unoriginal opener.

“Oh.” Holden’s voice is flat. “Is this something for me to worry about?”

“No, baby.” I try to reassure him, but his look tells me he doesn’t believe me so I take a deep breath. “I have to go back to the UK.”

I feel his body stiffen, so I add quickly, “Not for long, but there are some things I need to sort out. Meetings with clients. I need to discuss things with Nolan.”

“I k-knew this day would come.” Holden sighs, his shoulders deflating. “That this would be too g-good to last.”

“Baby, I’m coming back.”

“W-when?”

“A couple of weeks or so.” I haven’t worked it out fully yet. Holden shrugs, and his sense of defeat cuts deeply into me.

“It’s alright, I understand. You have your life back there and mine is here.” His words pour salt into the cuts.

“No, that’s just it. I don’t want that to be the case. I want our lives to be together. I don’t want a long-distance relationship. I’ve waited too long for this and I don’t want to waste any more time. So I’m moving back here.”

His eyes darken with confusion, which is attractive but I need to not be distracted as I still have a lot to tell him.

“B-but what about work? You run a business, Reece.”

“Yes, but I also have a partner in that business, which helps. I can do a lot of things remotely, and I’m not saying I won’t have to go back occasionally, but they’ll just be business trips.

And if it doesn’t work, then Nolan might buy my half of the business, or Hartley.

He’s showing promise, and in a couple of years he might be interested in buying into it.

I’m an engineer with fifteen years of experience in project management.

If I need to find a job here, I’m sure I can. ”

He starts worrying at his bottom lip, so I know he’s taking on board what I say and is thinking about it.

“B-but you’ve spent years building up your business,” he blurts out.

“Yes, but my happiness is more important than that. You are more important.”

“You’d move back here for m-me?” His voice is a hoarse whisper and I see his throat bob. I catch hold of his arms and pull him into an embrace.

“I’d move heaven and hell to be with you, baby.”

“You hate small towns,” he croaks, and I see his eyes fill with tears.

“I love you more. And whatever state you choose to have your next store in, I’ll be right there with you.”

“S-so I’m stuck with you?” His attempt at sass while almost crying is one of the many reasons I love him.

“Like glue, baby.”

“Good.” He buries his head into my chest and whispers, “Thank you.”

I settle into my seat and wait for everyone to board so we can take off.

I always hate this part. I don’t mind it once we’re in the air, I usually use the time to work or read, or catch up on some sleep, but this in-between time annoys me.

I close my eyes and think of Holden. I hated leaving him this morning, but I know it won’t be for long, and that we’ll call each other and text.

I take out my phone, I have just enough time to send one before we depart.

Hey baby, missing you, just about to leave, will msg when we touch down.

It only takes a few seconds before he sends one back.

Hope you have a safe flight. I’m missing you but my ass is glad of the rest.

Oh god, his talk and even a mention of his ass is not helping.

Can’t wait to kiss that dirty mouth of yours.

Can’t wait to wrap my mouth around . . .

I snort and half the other passengers in business class look up at me. Two can play at that game. We start taxiing down the runway, so I just have time to fire off a message containing a mouth and a peach emoji, and I hope he has a store full of customers.

Smiling to myself, I switch my phone to airplane mode.

Once we’re airborne, I reach for my carry on to pull out my laptop and find a small cotton drawstring bag in there.

I frown, pulling it out. I packed my bag myself.

It didn’t leave my presence the whole time, and it went through security alright.

It’s soft and squashy, just big enough to fit in the palm of my hand.

Intrigued, I open it up and peer inside.

A lump forms in my throat and I can hardly breathe.

It’s a knitted heart, just like the one he made me twenty years ago, except this time it’s in his colors.

The gray, green, and brown, just like his sweater vest. He’s given me a piece of himself.

It’s a good thing we’re already in the air, because if we were still on the ground, I’d be scrambling past everyone to get off, unable to leave him.

Instead, I close my hand around it and keep it with me for the rest of the flight.