Holding Back Novels & Stories

The alpha, the unshakable, the man I’ve come to rely on, cracking right in front of me. I blink. I don’t know what to do with this. I want to reach out, to touch him, to make him stop hurting in silence. I want him to stop pushing me away. I want him to admit everything. “Can’t what?” I press, voice barely above a whisper, raw with frustration. His eyes darken, searching mine, fierce and impossible. “Can’t let myself…” He stops. Takes a breath. “Lose control.” A flash of understanding hits me, a chilling, exciting, terrifying understanding. He’s holding himself back. The tension between us—the heat that’s been simmering under every interaction, every stolen glance, every brush of hands—he’s

The more she spoke, the sadder she became, until she was on the verge of sobbing. The commotion drew the attention of others, and curious eyes turned their way. Matthew was trapped. No matter how furious he felt, he could not lose control in public. He bit down and held the words back. “It’s not your fault. It’s mine.” He shut his eyes. His grip on the glass was so tight it nearly shattered. Quilla blinked at him, then, thinking his anger was gone, wiped her tears and threw herself into his arms. “Mr. Grant, you’re so kind.”

My hand froze in midair. Across the room, Ezel cheerfully urged her, "Mom, come on! Dad says we're going out for steak to celebrate surviving this!" Watching the happy backs of that family as they walked away, I couldn't hold it in any longer. My right hand unclenched at last, and with my mangled fingers I pressed the post button.

“I’m headed home to blow off some steam and get some sleep. We’re halfway to our goal. Get this marriage over with, Em. I need your head in the game.” “Lockdown?” I asked. Jano nodded. “No change until the dust of tonight settles.” “We just made Herrera weaker.” “We’re cornering him.” His eyes opened wide. “What is the saying? Scared animals return home, regardless of whether home is safe or frightening.” “You think he’ll go back to Mexico?” “We’ll talk tomorrow.”

I yanked my arm free with all my strength. “Who do you think you are? What gives you the right to order me around?” He gave a cold snort, arrogance once again blazing through. “I’m the CEO of Conners Corp. I decide what rights I have.” Before I could react, he hoisted me up onto his shoulder and said, “I’ll take you home right now. You won’t say where the baby is? Fine. As long as you’re with me, I know you won’t let him live without his mother.”

" why can't I let it go, I can't even get these emotions to come out. I feel like crying all out, shout, scream but I can't, for some reason mom, I just can't " " Its gonna be okay" Mom kept me embraced in her arms. " You are strong my girl, the time will come where you will let go of this pain, it doesn't mean you've to forget all about him, it just means you'll be able to remember him without having to feel this pain" Mom went back to her room after I mellowed out. I sat by the window looking at the moon, my eyes not acknowledging the view. " Wishing for something doesn't really make it true" I confessed. " I've been praying to move on but I can't bring myself out of this mess "

That’s worse. “They’re not copying anymore,” I say. “No,” he replies. “They’re adapting individually.” “So we can’t break one pattern anymore.” “No.” “Great.” A faint breath escapes him. Not quite a laugh. But close. “Yeah.” I glance at him again. Really look this time. Not just at the situation. At him. And I see it. The difference. Subtle. But real. “You’re holding back,” I say. A pause. “…yes.”

“No, but wе hаvе bасk—” I held uр mу hаndѕ tо cut him short. “Oh рlеаѕе, nоnе оf this bасk іn the dау, it’s ѕtаrtіng to gеt оld whеn you hаvе tо hаrk back to the gооd old dауѕ when уоu dіd асtuаllу wіn ѕоmеthіng.”

“You’re stepping into it for the first time.” “It doesn’t feel like control,” I said. “It feels like I’m about to explode.” “Then stop holding it back,” he said. “You’re the one building the pressure.” “You really think letting go is the solution?” I asked. “Because that sounds like the worst idea right now.” “I know it does,” he said. “But holding back is what will actually break you.” I exhaled slowly. “Fine, then stay close if I’m doing this.” “I’m not going anywhere,” he said. “You’re not facing this alone.”

"The 'back off' sign." "And why is that?" He raises his eyebrow and leaned forward, thrilled with what I'd say next. "Because no matter how the person wants to stay away from you and avoid you, they would just get pulled back right in and...well, they can't help it and just break the rules."