All Chapters of Holding you close: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO CALLUM'S POV Staring lustfully at his lips, I voiced out with a smirk, "A very hot romance will do, baby."Ignoring the fact that we were standing right on the open street, I reached out and pulled him closer by the waist."Be careful, we're on the roadside," Ian warned softly, though he didn't pull away. "You don't want your face on the news tomorrow morning.""That's not bad. I'm a celeb, so it won't make much of a difference," I replied easily. "But if you insist..."I pulled open the passenger door for him, waited until he was inside, then walked around to the driver's side. I slid in, started the engine, and zoomed off into the dusk, my eyes occasionally straying from the road to trace the lines of his face."You look as if you're going to swallow me whole, Cal," Ian paused, his fingers tracing his lower lip. "I haven't even recovered from the bruised lips you gave me a few hours ago.”I chuckled, keeping one hand on the steering wheel while reaching over to

CHAPTER TWENTY FOURCALLUM'S POVThe growling sound came again, making me realize it was coming from Ian's stomach—he hadn't eaten anything since breakfast.Embarrassed, he turned to the other side of the bed, unable to look me in the eye."Ian, let's go to Nonnie's restaurant so you can grab something to eat and help her out too," I suggested gently.He stood up almost immediately. "Thanks for reminding me. I completely forgot there's a team dinner tonight at the restaurant."I followed him out, and we glided into the elevator, heading straight down to where the car was parked.The ride back to the restaurant was short and quiet, neither of us speaking a word—I could tell he was still completely flushed from the embarrassment.As we pulled up to the restaurant, the warm glow of the windows spilled out onto the street, busy with early arrivals for the event.Ian unbuckled his seatbelt, finally glancing over at me with a sheepish, half-hearted smile that proved he hadn't quite recovere

CHAPTER TWENTY SIXROY'S POVI offloaded the containers from the truck, deliberately making a loud clatter to attract Ian's attention, but all to no avail.I bid the driver goodnight, thanking him for showing up at the right time and for helping me with the delivery.I bowed slightly as the truck rolled onto the road, then stacked both of my hands high with plates as I opened the door slowly to avoid the unruly creaking.My hands trembled, and the delivery container slipped from my grasp, sending plates shattering across the floor as I stared at the sight before me."Are you three having a party without me?"My voice echoed from the hallway, dripping with a cool, sharp amusement that instantly shattered the warmth of the kitchen."My dear, welcome back!" Nana pulled away, her smile bright and completely unbothered by the sudden interruption.She dusted off her apron as if I hadn't just dropped containers and plates all over the floor, her warm eyes softening as she looked past the sca

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHTIAN'S POVSeeing Callum flinch in fear actually amazed me. For a split second, he looked like a lifeless chicken, completely frozen beneath me on the cushions. To be frank, I was utterly exhausted too—every muscle in my body ached from the adrenaline, and all I really wanted was to collapse and rest."Rest, baby. I'm just kidding," I murmured, instantly softening my tone to assure him.He still looked flustered, his chest heaving as he tried his best to pull together a cool, unbothered face, though his eyes betrayed how rattled he really was."I'm not a nightmare, okay? That was just a joke, so rest.""I don't want that kind of joke," he huffed, glaring up at me as his breathing finally started to slow down. "You make my heart flustered, dude.""Huh-hun. Not your sweet baby, but dude?" I drawled, scoffing playfully at the abrupt change in title.I pushed myself off him, moving away from the couch and walking straight toward the staircase before he could see the s

CHAPTER THIRTY IAN'S POV It wasn't the lingering warmth of the shower, nor was it Callum’s quiet breath against my neck—it was a single, thick splash of heat spreading slowly across my forearm, slick and burning hot, dripping directly from his trembling fingers in the pitch black.My heart slammed against my ribs before my brain could even process what was happening."Callum?"The word came out as a strangled whisper, lost in the quiet hum of the bedroom. He didn't answer. He didn't pull away. He just lay there against me, heavy and completely still, while the thick, burning fluid continued to pool on my arm, trickling down past my wrist and soaking into the fitted sheet beneath us.I reached up with my free hand, my fingers fumbling blindly in the dark for his face. His skin was pale ice, clammy and slick with sweat, but his hand—the hand pressed flat against my chest—was trembling uncontrollably."Callum, talk to me. What is this?"I shifted beneath him, trying to push myself up,