All Chapters of Holding you close: Chapter 41 - Chapter 50

CHAPTER FORTY ONEKAI'S POV I swear down, that was Cal’s voice just now.I know the exact sound of his laugh, his quiet smiles, and his suppressed cries. We’ve been together since childhood; there isn't a single tone or cadence in his breath that isn't burned into my memory.Then, right after the laughter, I could swear I perceived his scent—that faint, familiar fragrance drifting over the air as the sudden chatter erupted from some loud guy in the room. Brian? Ian? I didn't care enough to grab his name.Still, my mind fought against it. I didn't think Cal could ever stoop so low to come to a place like this. He cares too much about high-end places, five-star cuisine, and flawless presentation to willingly sit in a noisy, cheap downtown diner. It didn't make any sense.But that laughter... that laughter kept baffling me. It was definitely him.Driven by an irresistible pull, I stood up from the corner booth, ready to cross the floor and check the hallway near the kitchen myself. But

CHAPTER FORTY THREEIAN'S POV Cal scanned the whole place quickly, somehow in awe—as if he had never seen the interior of my living room before, or as if stepping inside was the first time he had drawn a full breath all night.I kept my hand on his wrist, feeling the frantic pulse beneath his skin slowly begin to settle into a steady rhythm. The sharp, restless edge that had consumed him back at the restaurant was finally melting away, replaced by a quiet vulnerability that took my breath away."You look like you just escaped a war zone," I said softly, chuckling under my breath as I reached out to take his jacket."Maybe I did," Cal murmured, his eyes lingering on mine. He didn't pull away when our fingers brushed again, long and intentional. Instead, he took a small step closer, closing the tiny gap left between us."Well, the war stops at the door," I whispered, holding his gaze. I let my fingers trail lightly down his arm until our hands locked together. "You're with me now."He

CHAPTER FORTY FIVECALLUM'S POV "Don't tell me Kai is back again, oh," I groaned softly, burying my face into the pillow for a split second. Can I really not have a single good time to myself without someone barging in?Ian let out a soft, reassuring breath against my forehead before slowly pulling back. He stood up from the bed, fixing his shirt, and walked over to answer the door. He opened it just wide enough to block the view of the room, leaning his shoulder against the frame."Hey... am I interrupting something?"I recognized that voice immediately. It was one of the girls from the noisy table in the restaurant earlier."No," Ian answered, his voice dropping into that flat, protective tone he only used with strangers. "But it would be better if you're quick and brief. Why are you here?"He flashed both questions at her at once, still standing firmly by the door, completely unyielding.She blinked, looking puzzled by his cold reception. "At least let me in, or... are you busy?"

CHAPTER FORTY SEVEN CALLUM'S POV Thump!A sharp, hollow bang echoed through the quiet bedroom as the back of my head knocked right against the solid wood paneling."Ouch—dammit," I hissed, wincing as a dull throb radiated across my scalp. I clamped a hand over the back of my head, curling inward with a muffled groan.The dark, possessive tension in the room instantly snapped. Ian’s eyes widened, his serious expression melting into immediate concern."Cal! Hey—are you okay?" he asked quickly, his hands moving from my hair to gently cradle the sides of my face. He shifted onto his knees, carefully pulling my hand away to inspect the back of my head with his fingers. "Let me see. Did you cut it?""No... just hit a solid chunk of wood," I muttered, blinking back the sudden watering in my eyes as I looked up at him, a breathless, sheepish laugh slipping out despite the pain. "Way to ruin a dark, dramatic threat, Ian."A soft, exasperated chuckle escaped Ian’s chest as his thumb gently r

CHAPTER FORTY NINEKAI'S POV I walked back to my room to rest, only to be woken up in the middle of the morning by the persistent, muted buzz of my phone vibrating against the nightstand.I didn't rush to answer it. I lay there in the dim, cool light of the room for a few extra seconds, letting my mind calibrate before reaching out to pick up the device.The caller ID displayed Sandra.I brought the phone to my ear, my voice low and completely devoid of sleep. "Speak.""Sir, it's Sandra," the maid's voice came through, low and cautious. "I'm calling to report on the clothes, just like you instructed."I sat up slowly, swinging my legs over the edge of the mattress as my interest sharpened. "Did you manage to handle it?”"Yes, sir. I got another one made for you this morning, but...""What's the 'but' again, Sandra?" I spoke calmly now. Out of everyone in the estate, Sandra had always been my favorite—reliable, discreet, and fiercely competent, with a warmth behind closed doors that