Welcome to New Haven (109 page)

She’d survived.

If Alex hadn’t called her, she could’ve been dead. If he hadn't had reacted as quick as he did, she could’ve been dead. Alex had saved her life.
 

“You saved my life.” She told him. “If you hadn’t called, or reacted quickly…” She took a breath. “You saved me.”

Alex smiled at her as he brushed some loose tendrils of hair away from her face.

“You saved mine first.” He replied.

Stacey had gone to kill Alex first, before she’d seen Holly at the door with him, and changed her mind. If Holly hadn’t walked him to the door, Stacey would’ve shot him dead.

Holly smiled back as he wiped her tears.
 

“As much as it pains me to say this, you need to get some rest babe.” He groaned, clearly not wanting to let Holly go. She was tired, as was he.

They broke apart, and Alex quickly kissed her before she got off the bed and headed into her bathroom to shower, and Alex went to the other.
 

He’d gotten back before Holly had come out, so she wouldn’t have been alone in her bedroom.
 

Once in bed, they cuddled together, Holly tucked into Alex’s chest, his arms around her. Exhaustion overpowering them as they fell asleep.

Chapter 32

Sunday morning began with a repeat of the day before. Holly’s hands stroking Alex’s bare torso up and down.
 

Alex heard Holly sigh before she pressed her lips to his chest.
 

“I’ll never go home if each morning is like this.” He chuckled.
 

“Mmm” Holly moaned. “I can live with that.” She said as she pressed more kisses to his pecs.
 

“Good, because I don’t plan on leaving any time soon.” He replied as he stroked up her back with his fingertips.
 

He felt her skin shiver when his hands reached her bare upper back, above the seam of her PJ top. He slowly stroked back down and gently ran his hand under the back of her top, caressing her naked skin. Holly lifted her leg higher over his and pulled herself tighter to him. His body had reacted instantly to her touch and his ‘friend’ had well and truly woken up.
 

“Excellent” she breathed into his chest, sending goosebumps over his skin.
 

Holly’s lips grazed over his chest, to his neck, his heart speeding up as she did.
 

She hadn’t even gotten to his mouth, and already he was craving more. Her hands slid back down his chest, over his abs and one reached round to his lower back before gripping his ass.
 

Holly let out an appreciative sigh as her fingertips pressed into his flesh, causing his entire body to ignite.
 

“God… Holly.” He strained to say.
 

“I’m still asleep.” She said. “I have no control over my actions” she purred as she gripped his ass again.
 

“I guess I shouldn’t wake you then.” He chuckled.
 

“No. You should let me sleep. Mmm”
 

Alex heard Holly’s stomach growl, followed by his own.
 

“You need to wake for breakfast though.” He said as she kissed his collarbone. “You haven’t eaten much; babe”
 

“Neither have you.” Holly replied as she pulled back.
 

“You know what I want?” He asked, lowering his voice. Holly looked into his eyes, her mouth opening at his tone. “Quiero tu cuerpo para el desayuno”
 

Holly gasped and Alex quickly pecked her on the lips. He cupped her face with his hands.
 

“How are you feeling?” He asked, quietly. Holly had gotten upset the night before. He knew she’d have flashbacks and bouts of anxiety.
 

The paramedic, and his Mom both said that Holly would possibly be distant at times, and have sudden bursts of being upset, but it was the brains’ way of dealing with what had happened. The paramedic had expected a full breakdown by now, but Holly was strong. After all, she’d just had her hands all over him. Even so, he needed to make sure she was ok.
 

“I’m feeling better…” she nodded as she spoke. A smile crept across her lips. “Feeling
you
is better.” Her smile turned into a grin, and he laughed.
 

“I love you.” He whispered as he gazed at her beautiful face. This was what he wanted to see everyday. First thing in the morning
 
and last thing at night…forever.
 

“I love you too.” She whispered back and placed a gentle kiss on his lips.
 

Their stomachs growled in protest from the lack of food.

“Ok, let’s go.” Holly groaned as she pushed back the covers. Holly’s eyes drifted down Alex’s body, sending tingles through him from her lustful stare. He watched her expression change when she spotted his tented PJ bottoms. Her eyes widened, and her mouth hung open.
 

“Well, good morning to you too.” She said, and she bit her lower lip.
 

Alex could feel his cheeks heat. Holly didn’t look at all embarrassed at seeing the effects of their morning, she seemed to look aroused by it. Her eyes slowly drifted back to his and that’s when he saw a little blush. She took a deep breath and stood up.
 

“I’m going… to shower.” She said, shakily. “I won’t be long.”
 

“I’ll…um…go to the other one.” He said quickly and stood when Holly turned to walk into her bathroom. Once again, he returned before she did.

During breakfast, they both ate more than the previous day, to Kim’s relief.

“Mum, are you alright?” Holly asked as she saw her Mum looked troubled.
 

“Yeah baby girl. I, erm, spoke to Emily about an hour ago.”
 

Holly blew out a breath as her stomach fell.
 

“You told her then” It was a statement rather than a question.
 

“Yes love. She went berserk, but I managed to calm her down. She wanted to talk to you, but I told her you were still sleeping. She wants you to ring her”
 

Kim got up to pour coffee.
 

“Oh great. I will in a bit. I’m not awake enough to handle Em right now.”
 

Alex leant into her, close to her ear.
 

“You were awake enough to
handle me
, babe.” He whispered.
 

Holly’s eyes snapped to Alex’s as a flow of electricity shot through her causing her heart to race. Her cheeks heated, and she pulled her lower lip into her mouth.
 

“Down girl.” He said in his sexy, low tone, turning Holly’s legs to jelly.
 

“Speak for yourself” Holly shot back and she looked pointedly down towards his lower half. Alex’s eyes widened, and Holly winked as she smiled.
 

“Oli’s gone to the office to get a head start on the case.” Kim informed them as she sat back down. “He’s going to see what he can do to stop any of this going to the press and to start a complaint against the judge who authorised the releases”
 

“Oh God…the press.” Groaned Holly.

That’s all she needed. Nosy reporters hanging around trying to get a story from the ‘victim’. She didn’t want that in the slightest. Even if it meant exposing the failings of the authorities, she still didn’t want people sticking their noses in.
 

“Well, considering the inability of keeping Stacey locked up and allowing her to do this, I don’t think the police want to have their mistakes going public. Oli is trying to make sure that none of them leak anything to the media.” Said Kim.
 

“Is that possible? I mean, can he stop them from talking?” Asked Alex.
 

Holly could see the hopefulness in his face. He didn’t want her, or anybody else, harassed.
 

“It should be.” Kim nodded. “Oli is one of the best lawyers out there. He’ll have all of those involved threatened with legal action. He’ll use everything he can to stop all of you from getting hounded.”
 

Alex released a relieved breath.
 

“Thank God.” He said.

The house phone rang, and Kim answered.
 

“Hol…it’s Em.” She said as she held the phone to Holly. Alex held her hand as she took the phone.
 

“Hiya Em” Holly said into the receiver.
 

“Holly! Oh my
God
! Are you ok? Mum said worrappened!” Em shouted down the phone.
 

She was so loud, as she carried on talking, Holly had to hold the phone away from her ear. Em was using so many curse words, even a sailor would be shocked.
 

“Em, calm down. We’re fine. Nobody was hurt.” Holly tried to pacify Em’s violent rant.
 

“But she coulda killed ye! Even Alex! For fuck’s sake, Hol, ‘ow are you
not
kickin’ off?!” Em said, her voice still raised.
 

“Because I’ve done that Em, and we want to get past it now. It happened…I’m fine… she’s gone.”
 

Holly felt Alex kiss her temple as she spoke. He rubbed his thumb across the back of her hand. It soothed her. A simple caress from Alex made her feel so much calmer.
 

“Yeah, well I’m glad you broke the fuckers arm and face. She well deserved more than tha’, the whore.” Emily said with venom.
 

She started to calm down as Holly kept insisting that she was fine, even though talking about it was upsetting her.
 

Kim had told Emily what had happened, because she was flying over, with her Nan, to surprise Holly for her birthday. But, under the circumstances, Kim thought it was better knowing now than finding out when they got there and ruining Holly’s birthday. Holly was happy they were coming. She missed Em and her Nan, who she hadn’t seen since they’d moved to Seattle.

Holly hadn’t thought much about her birthday. She hadn’t had anything planned, but now she knew they were coming, she guessed her Mum had planned a family dinner at a restaurant, or something. She wasn’t sure she wanted to go anywhere like that, just yet.
 

“Your Nan’s been looking forward to coming over.” Said Kim as Holly ended the call with Emily.
 

“I’ve missed her.” She said.
 

“She’s looking forward to meeting you, Alex.” Smiled Kim.
 

“Me too.” He replied. “She sounds like a great lady.”
 

“She is.”
 

They got up from the table, and Holly led Alex outside into the rear garden. He hadn’t been out there since they all helped put the garden back together. Once outside, he looked around. In just a few days, the plants looked bigger like they had had some kind of magical growth spurt.
 

“Wow, this looks great!” He said in awe.
 

“Thanks, babe. I couldn’t have down it without you and the others.” She gushed.
 

Holly’s garden was her pride and joy. Especially the memorial rockery for her real Dad, James.
 

Holly led them to the greenhouse and opened the lids off the trays that she had lined up. Alex saw that every compartment had sprouted… something. Holly sprayed them all with water.
 

“They’ll be ready to plant out in a couple of weeks.” She said with a smile.

Alex loved to see her smile. He stroked his hand across her cheek and kissed her full, pink lips.
 

“Mmmm.” She sighed, and Alex’s pants strained against the growing hard on that he was sporting.

They left the greenhouse and looked around.
 

“They all did a great job.” She said about their friends, helping with the cleanup and repairs.

They went to her Dad’s rockery and sat down. Holly sat in-between Alex’s legs with her back to his front. He wrapped his arms around her waist as she leant her head back against his shoulder. He buried his nose in her hair and inhaled. Coconut.

They sat there for a few moments, in the sunshine, listening to the birds singing and the bees buzzing around the flowers.
 

“This is nice.” She said in an almost whisper. “Sitting here together…It’s peaceful”
 

“Yeah it is.” He replied before pressing his lips, lightly, to the curve in Holly’s neck where it met her shoulder.

“Holly, Alex, the others are here!” Kim called from the doorway. They got up off the floor as Dev, Ben, Ryan, Riss, Kyle and Kayla walked out into the garden. The girls immediately rushed to Holly and pulled her into a group hug.
 

“We’re so glad you’re ok honey.” Said Riss.
 

“We’re here for you, too.” Said Kayla. “Now, we won’t say anymore sweetie.” She added.
 

“Thanks guys” Holly smiled as Alex held her hand. He was hoping the girls wouldn’t bombard Holly with questions, and he was grateful that they didn’t. She’d looked sad after talking to Em, and he’d hated it.
 

Once the girls had hugged Holly, they hugged him, but he never let go of Holly’s hand. They guys hugged them too, and then they all went back into the house to Holly’s hangout room.
 

“The garden’s looking great.” Dev said as they sat down.
 

“It is. You all did a great job helping me out.” Holly replied.
 

“I enjoyed it. It was therapeutic” added Kayla.
 

“Yeah but it can hurt the back.” Said Riss, rubbing her lower spine.
 

“Then, I can rub you down before I rub you up.” Said Ryan, which got everybody laughing.
 

Trust Ryan to lighten the mood.

Kim had filled Holly’s snack cupboard, and fridge and there were plenty for everyone, so Dev got to work sorting out the snacks whilst Kayla chose a movie to watch. Thankfully, she chose something that didn’t involve killing anyone. ‘Couples Retreat.’ At least it was funny. Each pair, in their group, sat together and cuddled whilst watching.